pleasure principle
Definition
Noun: - (Psychoanalysis) The governing principle of the id: The "pleasure principle" is the instinctual drive to seek immediate gratification of desires, needs, and urges, and to avoid pain or discomfort. It operates primarily in the unconscious mind. - The principle that an infant seeks gratification and fails to distinguish fantasy from reality: This describes the primary, early mode of mental functioning where the aim is to satisfy impulses through processes like hallucination or reflex action, without regard for external reality or consequences.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- According to Freudian theory, the infant's mind is dominated by the pleasure principle.
- The impulsive decision was driven more by the pleasure principle than by rational thought.
Advanced Usage
- In contrast to the "reality principle": The "pleasure principle" is often discussed in opposition to the "reality principle," which develops later and modifies the pleasure principle by considering the constraints of the external world.
- As the ego develops, the pleasure principle is gradually tempered by the reality principle.
Variants and Related Words
- Pleasure-pain principle (n): An alternative term for the same concept, emphasizing the dual motivation to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
- Id (n): In psychoanalytic theory, the part of the psyche associated with instinctual impulses and the pleasure principle.
- Gratification (n): The state of having a desire or need satisfied, which is the goal of the pleasure principle.
Synonyms
- Hedonic principle: A term emphasizing the pursuit of pleasure.
- Primary process thinking: In psychoanalysis, the type of mental activity (e.g., in dreams, fantasies) governed by the pleasure principle.
Related Idioms/Phrases
- "To live by the pleasure principle": (Figurative, non-clinical) To live a life primarily focused on seeking immediate enjoyment and avoiding discomfort.
- After retiring, he decided to live by the pleasure principle, traveling and indulging his hobbies.
Noun
-
(psychoanalysis) the governing principle of the id; the principle that an infant seeks gratification and fails to distinguish fantasy from reality
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ trái nghĩa
Từ chứa "pleasure principle"