death drive (Thanatos)

The death drive, or Thanatos, is a concept from psychoanalysis proposed by Sigmund Freud. It suggests that humans have an unconscious tendency toward self-destruction and a return to a state of calm or non-existence. This drive balances our life instincts (Eros) that seek pleasure and growth. The death drive may manifest in aggressive behaviors, risky actions, or destructive impulses, driven by an innate push toward rest or nothingness. Understanding this helps explain certain behaviors that seem to oppose our survival instincts, highlighting the complex and often conflicting forces within human psychology.