Drive
THE DRIVE
SIGMUND FREUD
HUMAN SEXUALITY
is central to his theory of human sexuality lies at the heart of his theory of human sexuality
HUMAN SEXUALITY - INSTINCT AND DRIVE
For Freud, the distinctive feature of human sexuality -- as opposed to the sexual life of other animals -- is that it is not regulated by any instinct but by the drives.
For Freud, the distinctive feature of human sexuality -- as opposed to the sexual life of other animals -- is that it is not regulated by any instinct -- a concept which implies a relatively fixed and innate relationship to an object -- but by the drives -- which differ from instincts in that they are extremely variable, and develop in ways which are contingent on the life history of the subject.
FIXEDNESS AND VARIABILITY - INSTINCT AND DRIVE
The concept of the The Instinkt The instinct
implies a relatively fixed and innate relationship to an object --
The concept of The Trieb The drive
differs from an instinct (biological needs) in that it
is extremely variable
and develops in ways which are contingent on the life history of the subject
DESIRE AND SATISFACTION - INSTINCT AND DRIVE
The concept of
The Trieb
The drive
differs from an instinct (biological needs) in that it/they
can never be satisfied and
do not aim at an object but merely circle perpetually around it.
THE AIM OF THE DRIVE
Lacan argues that the purpose of the drive (Triebziel) is not to reach a goal (a final destination) but to follow its aim (the way itself), which is to circle round the object.[1]
Thus the real purpose of the drive is not some mythical goal of full satisfaction, but to return to its circular path, and the real source of enjoyment is the repetitive movement of this closed circuit.
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN AN INSTINCT AND A DRIVE
It is crucial to acknowledge the distinction between an instinct and a drive.
An instinct designates a need that can be satisfied.
The examples Freud usually gives are those of hunger and thirst.
These needs give rise to an excitation within the body that can be satisfied and neutralized.
---
The drive, on the other hand, cannot be satisfied and is characterized by the constancy of the pressure it exerts on consciousness.
Translation
The Standard Edition of the works of Freud fails to reister the important distinction he makes between Instinkt and Trieb.
Freud normally uses the word Instinkt to refer to a relatively fixed set of behavioral patterns triggered by external stimuli; instincts are characteristic of animals, and are biologically defined.[2]
Unlike an instinct a drive or Trieb (from the verb tereiben, "to push") does not have a preordained goal and is characterized by the pressure it exerts within the psyche.
The aims or goals of drives ar eextremely variable and are strongly influenced by the history of the individual.
A drive is characterized by its source ( a physical stimulus or erogenous zone), its aim (the elimination of the tension caused by stimulation) and its object (anything that enables it to fulfil its aim).
Freud's theory of drives is dualistic, and a distinction is made beween ego-drives , whcih are directed towards self-preservation, and sexual drives.
In his later work, Freud introduces a further distinction between life-drives and the death drive.
The model of the Freudian drive is libido - sexual energy - or what is also translated as 'wish' or 'desire'. According to Laplanche and Leclaire, it is the introduction of the drive into the sphere of need that marks the distinction between a need and desire: 'the drive introduces into the sphere of need an
trieb tends to be trasnalted as drive, as this is the closest equivalent to the french pulsion.
The drive
or instinct as it is usually translated in English
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book XI. The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, 1964. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1977. p.168
- ↑ Freud, Sigmund. (1915a) "Instincts and their Vicissitudes." SE XIV; Penguin Freud Library XI
