A theoretical overview of the concept of death drive in psychoanalytic theories from freud to today

Moosavian, Elham

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year 12, Issue 12 (winter 2024 2024) Rooyesh 2024, 12(12): 43-54 | Back to browse issues page

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Moosavian E. (2024). A theoretical overview of the concept of death drive in psychoanalytic theories from freud to today. Rooyesh. 12(12), 43-54.
URL: http://frooyesh.ir/article-1-4793-en.html

A theoretical overview of the concept of death drive in psychoanalytic theories from freud to today

Elham Moosavian ^*

PhD in clinical Psychology, Faculty Of Education And Psychology, University Of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran. , elham_moosavian@yahoo.com

Abstract: (1521 Views)

Freud aimed to comprehend why individuals tend to repeat painful or traumatic experiences, a behavior conflicting with the "pleasure principle." In addressing this contradiction, he introduced the concept of the death drive in the article "Beyond the Principle of Pleasure." No other Freudian concept has sparked as much controversy as this idea, which has become a crucial reference point in many analysts' understanding of destructive phenomena encountered in the treatment room and beyond. This research, recognizing the link between the death drive and various psychological pathologies, seeks to provide a theoretical review of this concept within psychoanalytical approaches and explore its therapeutic implications. To achieve this, the study begins by presenting the definition and function of the death drive from the perspectives of Freud and Klein, and a theoretical comparison of these viewpoints is offered. Subsequently, the concept of the death drive is examined from the standpoint of ego psychology, French psychoanalysis, and other contemporary psychoanalytical approaches. The findings highlight that disorders such as borderline and narcissistic personality disorders prominently feature aggression and self-destruction. However, these tendencies are often concealed from therapists' view, leading to challenges in quick recognition. Importantly, therapist resistance may contribute to misinterpretation and overlooking the satisfaction of self-destruction. In response, the research proposes crucial therapeutic insights for prompt diagnosis and treatment of these self-destructive tendencies, emphasizing the importance of therapist awareness and understanding in dealing with such challenging clinical scenarios.

Keywords: Death drive, Psychoanalytical theory, Freud.

Full-Text [PDF 893 kb] (855 Downloads)

Type of Article: Analysis | Subject: Psychoanalysis- Analytical psychology
Received: 2023/08/22 | Accepted: 2023/10/28 | ePublished: 2024/03/10