Freud on Instincts: The Eros and the Thanatos

Obstinate Dualism is termed when two theories are recognized as true despite them being opposite in nature. We can observe this trend in some (if not most) of Freud’s theories. Take the Id and the Ego, for example. The Id serves as our animalistic side, while the Ego serves as it’s more rational moderator. Besides those, Freud also has two very interesting, yet very opposite, theories: Eros and Thanatos – The Life and the Death Instinct.

The Life Instinct, also known as Eros, is the drive that keeps us alive. It serves as the survival instinct of the individual by seeking to satisfy our basic needs. And our most important instinct? The Sexual Instinct.

Now, before any of you woud be peeved about ths, Freud defended this theory. According to him, the sexual instict does not only encompass anyhing erotic in nature. Rather, it pertains to aything pleasurable to a person. If sleeping, running, or even reading a book a pleasurable experience for you, then it’s your sexual instinct working.

The Life Instinct is driven by a powerful energy called the libido.It drives a person to anything that is pleasurable. But for libido to satisfy our need for pleasure, it has to find an object of gratification. And once it is successful, it directs the enegy into that object through a process called Cathexis.

For its counterpart, Thanatos or the Death Instinct is, according to Freud, is an individual’s unconscious desire to die. “It may very well be our drive for self destruction.” Ma’am Corazon Kawi, my professor, said during one of her lectures.

“It can also be perceived in the Biological Perspective,” my professor proceeded to say. “All living things will return to its inanimate stage.”

The Death Instinct is not as prominet as the Life Instinct, as it resides more on our own unconsious; but it doesn’t mean that it wont visit our consciousness. However during so, it will not be in its original form, but in a disguised – more acceptable manner.

Another drive under the Death Instinct is the Aggressive Drive. This is like the death instinct, laced with the survival of the fittest kind of vibe. It is one of the components of it that compels us to destroy, conquer and kill other things.

Life is full of ironies, and apparently Freud saw that and put it into theories that would help us understand the happenings within the inner workings of our mind. How about you? What do you think of these instincts? Is there a way for us to suppress these instincts? I’d love to hear from you!

References:

  • Kawi, Corazon, et. al. 2005.  Theories of Personality: Psych 24. Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines

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