life instinct

in psychoanalytic theory, the drive comprising the self-preservation instinct, which is aimed at individual survival, and the sexual instinct, which is aimed at the survival of the species. In the dual instinct theory of Sigmund Freud, the life instinct, or Eros, stands opposed to the death instinct, or Thanatos. Also called erotic instinct.

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Psychology term of the day

November 16th 2024

borderline disorder

borderline disorder

1. see borderline personality disorder.

2. historically, any psychological condition that lies between normality and neurosis, between normality and psychosis, or between normal intelligence and intellectual disability.