This document summarizes Freud's theory of instincts, which he believed were the basic motivating forces that drive behavior. It identifies two main types of instincts: life instincts and death instincts. Life instincts ensure survival by satisfying needs for things like food and sex. They are oriented toward growth and development. The psychic energy of life instincts is called libido. In contrast, Freud postulated death instincts as an unconscious drive toward destruction, decay, and aggression. One component of death instincts is the aggressive drive, which compels one to destroy, conquer, and kill.

1. INSTINCTS

2. “MENTAL REPRESENTATIONS OF INTERNAL STIMULI, SUCH AS HUNGER, THAT
DRIVE A PERSON TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS“
• INSTINCTS ARE BASIC ELEMENTS OF PERSONALITY, THE MOTIVATING FORCES
THAT DRIVE BEHAVIOUR AND DETERMINE ITS DIRECTION.
• INSTINCTS ARE A FORM OF ENERGY – TRANSFORMED PHYSIOLOGICAL ENERGY
– THAT CONNECTS BODY’S NEEDS WITH THE MIND’S WISHES.

3. TYPES OF INSTINCTS
INSTINCTS ARE OF TWO TYPES:
1. LIFE INSTINCTS
2. DEATH INSTINCTS
LIFE INSTINCTS
“THE DRIVE FOR ENSURING SURVIVAL OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND SPECIES BY
SATISFYING THE NEEDS FOR AIR, WATER, FOOD, AND SEX”.

4. • LIFE INSTINCTS ARE ORIENTED TOWARD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
• THE PSYCHIC ENERGY MANIFESTED BY LIFE INSTINCTS IS LIBIDO.
• THE LIBIDO CAN BE ATTACHED TO OR INVESTED IN OBJECTS, A CONCEPT FREUD
CALLED CATHEXIS.
• THE LIFE INSTINCT, FREUD CONSIDERED MOST IMPORTANT FOR PERSONALITY IS
SEX.

5. DEATH INSTINCTS
IN OPPOSITION OF LIFE INSTINCTS, FREUD POSTULATED DESTRUCTIVE OR DEATH
INSTINCT.
“THE UNCONSCIOUS DRIVE TOWARD DECAY, DESTRUCTION, AND AGGRESSION”.
• ONE COMPONENT OF DEATH INSTINCT IS AGGRESSIVE DRIVE.
• AGGRESSIVE DRIVE: THE COMPULSION OF DESTROY, CONQUER, AND KILL.