component instinct

in psychoanalytic theory, a fundamental element of the sexual instinct that has a specific source in one part of the body (e.g., the oral instinct) and a particular aim (e.g., instinct to master). The component instincts are posited to function independently during the early stages of psychosexual development and later to fuse during the genital stage, which begins at puberty. Also called partial instinct; part instinct.

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Psychology term of the day

January 30th 2025

exhaustive

adj. complete or all encompassing. For example, a set of 13 hearts, 13 spades, 13 diamonds, 13 clubs, and two jokers forms an exhaustive set of all possible playing cards that could be drawn.