IV.

Triebe: Drives or Instincts

Psychoanalytic theory holds that human thoughts, feelings, and impulses are not random—but instead are linked in a system of causally related phenomena behind which lies some reason or meaning. Many of these events are unconscious but can be investigated in order to understand the relationship between past and present events.

Freud’s original concept held that the conflict in early life arises as a result of innate drives or instincts (in German, Triebe). A drive is a state of motivation, produced by excitation of the central nervous system, occurring in response to stimuli, or to deprivation of something perceived as necessary—such as food. Freud described as libidinal drive that drive which serves the species by directing individuals to reproduce. This now receives some biological support. He also described aggressive drives that he felt would serve to protect the species. Biological evidence for this drive is weak—most support for it coming from psychologists.