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

February 21st 2025

representational skills

representational skills

cognitive skills involved in understanding people, objects, and events in terms of mental representation, including the use of images and words.