Life and Death Instincts Theory

Sigmund Freud introduced this theory in his publication 'Beyond the Pleasure Principle'(1920).His pleasure principal evolved when he realised that there are mental processes that are destructive and go against the pleasure principal.When World War I veterans came back with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),and this did not fit into Freud's psychoanalysis paradigm,so the theory of death instincts was introduced,as Freud belives that all human behaviours are motivated by drives and instincts.

Life Instincts (Eros)
Life instinct is sometimes refered to as sexual instincts.The life instinct are those we rely on for survival,pleasure and reproduction.The life instincts are a necessity for sustaining both individual and global human existence.While often called sexual insticts basic drives such as thirst,hunger and pain avoidance are also taken care of.The energy created by life instinct is known as 'Libido' the latin word for 'I desire'.

Death Instincts (Thanatos)
Once Freud introduced his death instict drive he said 'The goal of all life is death'(Freud,1920).

Thanatos which is in opposition and balance with Eros is linked to negative emotions such as fear,hate and anger.Thanatos pushes humans towards extinction which shows Life and Death Instincts are two conflicting central desires.

Freud said that people who experience a traumatic event usually reenact the experience,an exaple of this is war veterains that return home and experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD).When he witnessed this with World War I veterans he concluded that humans hold a sub concious desire to die.This 'death wish' is largely tempered by the Life Instinct.

Freud viewed self distructive behaviour such as attempted suiside, alcohol and drug abuse as an expression of the energy created by our death instict.When this energy is directed at others it is expressed as anger and violence.