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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

December 19th 2024

unipolar rating scale

unipolar rating scale

a type of instrument that prompts a respondent to evaluate the degree to which a single quality or attribute is present. For example, consider a scale with the following anchors or benchmarks: (1) not at all satisfied, (2) slightly satisfied, (3) moderately satisfied, (4) very satisfied, and (5) completely satisfied. Because there is no anchor that represents the opposing quality of dissatisfaction, the scale has one pole. Also called unipolar scale. Compare bipolar rating scale.