,,the ,,international                   
,,psycho-,,analytical                   
,,library                               
,,edited ,,by ,,ernest ,,jones          
,no4 #d                                 
,,beyond ,,the ,,pleasure ,,principle   
,,by                            ,,sigm4 
,,freud1 ,m4,d41 ,,ll4,d4               
,,authorized ,,translation              
,,from ,,the ,,second ,,german ,,edition
                            ,,by ,c4 ,j4
 ,m4 ,,hubback    ,illustration3 ,logo  
,,the ,,international                   
,,psycho-,,analytical ,,press           
,,london      ,,mcmxxii      ,,vienna   
,,copyright #aibb                       
,,editorial ,,preface      ,i have      
revised this translation1 so carefully  
made by ,miss ,hubback1  several times1 
but ,i feel that it calls for special   
indulgence on the  part of the reader4  
,on account1 doubtless1 of the extreme  
complexity and  remarkable novelty of   
the ideas which ,professor ,freud here  
expounds1  comprising as they do his    

thoughts on the ultimate problems of    
life1 the  style is one of exceptional  
difficulty4 ,as it is more important to 
render his ideas precisely than to      
clothe them in another garb1 we  decided
 to adhere faithfully to the original   
even at the expense of some  uncouthness
 as regards the ,english4    ,the word  
,unlust1 as in the phrase pleasure-pain 
principle1 has been  translated as      
#8pain'2 pain without inverted commas   
signifies ,schmerz  in the original4    
,the word ,besetzung 7literally3 state  
of being  occupied71 as in the          
expressions ,besetzungsenergie and      
,energiebesetzung has been rendered by  
the words #8investment' or  #8charge'1  
the latter being taken from the analogy 
of electricity4 ,these  and other       
technical terms will be discussed in a  
,glossary which it is  intended to      
publish as a supplement to the          
,international ,journal of              
,psycho-,analysis4                      
,,beyond ,,the                          

,,pleasure                              
,,principle                             
,i      ,in the psycho-analytical theory
 of the mind we take it for granted     
that the course of mental processes is  
automatically regulated by #8the        
pleasure-principle'3 that is to say1 we 
believe that any given process          
originates in an unpleasant state of    
tension and thereupon determines  for   
itself such a path that its ultimate    
issue coincides with a  relaxation of   
this tension1 i4 e4 with avoidance of   
#8pain' or with  production of pleasure4
 ,when we consider the psychic processes
 under  observation in reference to such
 a sequence we are introducing into  our
 work the economic point of view4 ,in   
our opinion a presentation  which seeks 
to estimate1 not only the topographical 
and dynamic1  but also the economic     
element is the most complete that we can
 at  present imagine1 and deserves to be
 distinguished by the term              
metapsychological4    ,we are not       

interested in examining how far in our  
assertion of the  pleasure-principle we 
have approached to or adopted any given 
philosophical system historically       
established4 ,our approach to such      
speculative hypotheses is by way of our 
endeavour to describe and  account for  
the facts falling within our daily      
sphere of observation4  ,priority and   
originality are not among the aims which
 psycho-analysis  sets itself1 and the  
impressions on which the statement of   
this  principle is founded are of so    
unmistakable a kind that it is scarcely 
possible to overlook them4 ,on the other
 hand1 we should willingly  acknowledge 
our indebtedness to any philosophical or
 psychological  theory that could tell  
us the meaning of these feelings of     
pleasure and  #8pain' which affect us so
 powerfully4 ,unfortunately no theory of
 any  value is forthcoming4 ,it is the  
obscurest and least penetrable region of
  psychic life and1 while it is         
impossible for us to avoid touching on  

it1  the most elastic hypothesis will   
be1 to my mind1 the best4 ,we have      
decided to consider pleasure and #8pain'
 in relation to the quantity of         
excitation present in the psychic       
life--and not confined in any way--along
  such lines that #8pain' corresponds   
with an increase and pleasure with a    
decrease in this quantity4 ,we do not   
thereby commit ourselves to a  simple   
relationship between the strength of the
 feelings and the changes  corresponding
 with them1 least of all1 judging from  
psycho-physiological  experiences1 to   
any view of a direct proportion existing
 between them2  probably the amount of  
diminution or increase in a given time  
is the  decisive factor for feeling4    
,possibly there is room here for        
experimental work1 but it is inadvisable
 for us analysts to go further  into    
these problems until we can be guided by
 quite definite  observations4    ,we   
cannot however profess the like         
indifference when we find that an       

investigator of such penetration as ,g4 
,th4 ,fechner has advocated a           
conception of pleasure and #8pain' which
 in essentials coincides with  that     
forced upon us by psycho-analytic work4 
,fechner's pronouncement is  to be found
 in his short work #8,einige ,ideen zur 
,schpfungs- und  ,entwicklungsgeschichte
 der ,organismen'1 #ahgc 7,section ,,xi1
 ,note p4 #id7  and reads as follows3   
#8,in so far as conscious impulses      
always bear a  relation to pleasure or  
8pain01 pleasure or 8pain0 may be       
thought of in  psycho-physical          
relationship to conditions of stability 
and instability1  and upon this may be  
based the hypothesis ,i intend to       
develop elsewhere1  viz43 that every    
psycho-physical movement rising above   
the threshold of  consciousness is      
charged with pleasure in proportion as  
it  approximates--beyond a certain      
limit--to complete equilibrium1 and with
  8pain0 in proportion as it departs    
from it beyond a certain limit2 while   

between the two limits which may be     
described as the qualitative  thresholds
 of 8pain0 or pleasure1 there is a      
certain area of aesthetic               
indifference4'    ,the facts that have  
led us to believe in the supremacy of   
the  pleasure-principle in psychic life 
also find expression in the  hypothesis 
that there is an attempt on the part of 
the psychic apparatus  to keep the      
quantity of excitation present as low as
 possible1 or at  least constant4 ,this 
is the same supposition only put into   
another form1  for1 if the psychic      
apparatus operates in the direction of  
keeping down  the quantity of           
excitation1 all that tends to increase  
it must be felt  to be contrary to      
function1 that is to say painful4 ,the  
pleasure-principle is deduced from the  
principle of constancy2 in  reality the 
principle of constancy was inferred from
 the facts that  necessitated our       
assumption of the pleasure-principle4   
,on more detailed  discussion we shall  

find further that this tendency on the  
part of the  psychic apparatus          
postulated by us may be classified as a 
special case  of ,fechner's principle of
 the tendency towards stability to which
 he  has related the pleasure-pain      
feelings4    ,in that event1 however1 it
 must be affirmed that it is not        
strictly  correct to speak of a         
supremacy of the pleasure-principle over
 the  course of psychic processes4 ,if  
such existed1 then the vast majority of 
our psychic processes would necessarily 
be accompanied by pleasure or  would    
conduce to it1 while the most ordinary  
experience emphatically  contradicts any
 such conclusion4 ,one can only say that
 a strong tendency  towards the         
pleasure-principle exists in the psyche1
 to which1 however1  certain other      
forces or conditions are opposed1 so    
that the ultimate  issue cannot always  
be in accordance with the               
pleasure-tendency4 ,compare  the comment
 of ,fechner in a similar connection4#a 

#8,therewithal it is to  be noted that  
the tendency towards the goal does not  
imply the  attainment of it and that in 
general the goal is only approximately  
attainable4444' ,if we now address      
ourselves to the question of what       
circumstances have the power to         
frustrate the successful carrying out of
  the pleasure-principle we shall be    
treading on safer and better-known      
ground1 and we can draw in abundant     
measure on our analytical  experiences  
for the answer4    ,the first case of   
such a check on the pleasure-principle  
is perfectly  familiar to us in the     
regularity of its occurrence4 ,we know  
that the  pleasure-principle is adjusted
 to a primary mode of operation on the  
part of the psychic apparatus1 and that 
for the preservation of the  organism   
amid the difficulties of the external   
world it is ab initio  useless and      
indeed extremely dangerous4 ,under the  
influence of the  instinct of the ego   
for self-preservation it is replaced by 

the  #8reality-principle'1 which without
 giving up the intention of ultimately  
attaining pleasure yet demands and      
enforces the postponement of            
satisfaction1 the renunciation of       
manifold possibilities of it1 and the   
temporary endurance of #8pain' on the   
long and circuitous road to  pleasure4  
,the pleasure-principle however remains 
for a long time the  method of operation
 of the sex-impulses1 which are not so  
easily  educable1 and it happens over   
and over again that whether acting      
through  these impulses or operating in 
the ego itself it prevails over the     
reality-principle to the detriment of   
the whole organism4    ,it is at the    
same time indubitable that the          
replacement of the  pleasure-principle  
by the reality-principle can account    
only for a small  part1 and that not the
 most intense1 of painful experiences4  
,another and  no less regular source of 
#8pain' proceeds from the conflicts and 
dissociations in the psychic apparatus  

during the development of the ego       
towards a more highly co-ordinated      
organisation4 ,nearly all the energy    
with which the apparatus is charged     
comes from the inborn instincts1 but    
not all of these are allowed to develop 
to the same stage4 ,on the way it  over 
and again happens that particular       
instincts1 or portions of them1  prove  
irreconcilable in their aims or demands 
with others which can be  welded into   
the comprehensive unity of the ego4     
,they are thereupon split  off from this
 unity by the process of repression1    
retained on lower  stages of psychic    
development1 and for the time being cut 
off from all  possibility of            
gratification4 ,if they then succeed1 as
 so easily happens  with the repressed  
sex-impulses1 in fighting their way     
through--along  circuitous routes--to a 
direct or a substitutive gratification1 
this  success1 which might otherwise    
have brought pleasure1 is experienced by
  the ego as #8pain'4 ,in consequence of

 the old conflict which ended in        
repression the pleasure-principle has   
been violated anew1 just at the  moment 
when certain impulses were at work on   
the achievement of fresh  pleasure in   
pursuance of the principle4 ,the details
 of the process by  which repression    
changes a possibility of pleasure into a
 source of  #8pain' are not yet fully   
understood1 or are not yet capable of   
clear  presentation1 but it is certain  
that all neurotic #8pain' is of this    
kind1 is pleasure which cannot be       
experienced as such4    ,the two sources
 of #8pain' here indicated still do not 
nearly cover the  majority of our       
painful experiences1 but as to the rest 
one may say with  a fair show of reason 
that their presence does not impugn the 
supremacy  of the pleasure-principle4   
,most of the #8pain' we experience is of
 a  perceptual order1 perception either 
of the urge of unsatisfied instincts  or
 of something in the external world     
which may be painful in itself or  may  

arouse painful anticipations in the     
psychic apparatus and is  recognised by 
it as #8danger'4 ,the reaction to these 
claims of impulse  and these threats of 
danger1 a reaction in which the real    
activity of  the psychic apparatus is   
manifested1 may be guided correctly by  
the  pleasure-principle or by the       
reality-principle which modifies this4  
,it  seems thus unnecessary to recognise
 a still more far-reaching limitation   
of the pleasure-principle1 and          
nevertheless it is precisely the        
investigation of the psychic reaction to
 external danger that may supply  new   
material and new questions in regard to 
the problem here treated4               
,,ii      ,after severe shock of a      
mechanical nature1 railway collision or 
other  accident in which danger to life 
is involved1 a condition may arise      
which has long been recognised and to   
which the name #8traumatic  neurosis' is
 attached4 ,the terrible war that is    
just over has been  responsible for an  

immense number of such maladies and at  
least has put  an end to the inclination
 to explain them on the basis of organic
 injury  to the nervous system due to   
the operation of mechanical force4#b    
,the  clinical picture of traumatic     
neurosis approaches that of hysteria in 
its wealth of similar motor symptoms1   
but usually surpasses it in its         
strongly marked signs of subjective     
suffering--in this resembling rather    
hypochondria or melancholia--and in the 
evidences of a far more  comprehensive  
general weakening and shattering of the 
mental functions4  ,neither the war     
neuroses nor the traumatic neuroses of  
peace are as yet  fully understood4     
,with the war neuroses some light was   
contributed1 but  also on the other hand
 a certain confusion introduced1 by the 
fact that  the same type of malady could
 occasionally occur without the         
interposition of gross mechanical force4
 ,in the traumatic neuroses there  are  
two outstanding features which might    

serve as clues for further  reflection3 
first that the chief causal factor      
seemed to lie in the  element of        
surprise1 in the fright2 and secondly   
that an injury or wound  sustained at   
the same time generally tended to       
prevent the occurrence of  the neurosis4
 ,fright1 fear1 apprehension are        
incorrectly used as  synonymous         
expressions3 in their relation to danger
 they admit of quite  clear distinction4
 ,apprehension 7,angst7 denotes a       
certain condition as  of expectation of 
danger and preparation for it1 even     
though it be an  unknown one2 fear      
7,furcht7 requires a definite object of 
which one is  afraid2 fright 7,schreck7 
is the name of the condition to which   
one is  reduced if one encounters a     
danger without being prepared for it2 it
  lays stress on the element of         
surprise4 ,in my opinion apprehension   
cannot produce a traumatic neurosis2 in 
apprehension there is something  which  
protects against fright and therefore   

against the fright-neurosis4  ,we shall 
return later to this dictum4    ,the    
study of dreams may be regarded as the  
most trustworthy approach to  the       
exploration of the deeper psychic       
processes4 ,now in the traumatic        
neuroses the dream life has this        
peculiarity3 it continually takes the   
patient back to the situation of his    
disaster1 from which he awakens in      
renewed terror4 ,this fact has caused   
less surprise than it merits4 ,the      
obtrusion on the patient over and again1
 even in sleep1 of the  impression made 
by the traumatic experience is taken as 
being merely a  proof of its strength4  
,the patient has so to speak undergone a
 psychical  fixation as to the trauma4  
,fixations of this kind on the          
experience  which has brought about the 
malady have long been known to us in    
connection with hysteria4 ,breuer and   
,freud stated in #ahic that hysterics   
suffer for the most part from           
reminiscences4 ,in the war neuroses1    

observers1 such as ,ferenczi and        
,simmel1 have been able to explain a    
number of motor symptoms as fixation on 
the factor of the trauma4    ,but ,i am 
not aware that the patients suffering   
from traumatic neuroses  are much       
occupied in waking life with the        
recollection of what happened  to them4 
,they perhaps strive rather not to think
 of it4 ,to regard it as  self-evident  
that the dream at night takes them back 
to the situation  which has caused the  
trouble is to misunderstand the nature  
of dreams4  ,it would be more in        
correspondence with that nature if the  
patient were  presented 7in sleep7 with 
images from the time of his normal      
health or  of his hoped-for recovery4   
,if we are not to go thoroughly astray  
as to  the wish-fulfilment tendency of  
the dream in consequence of these dreams
  of the shock neuroses1 perhaps the    
expedient is left us of supposing  that 
in this condition the dream function    
suffers dislocation along with  the     

others and is diverted from its usual   
ends1 or else we should have  to think  
of the enigmatic masochistic tendencies 
of the ego4    ,i propose now to leave  
the obscure and gloomy theme of the     
traumatic  neuroses and to study the way
 in which the psychic apparatus works in
  one of its earliest normal activities4
 ,i refer to the play of children4      
,the different theories of child-play   
have recently been collated by ,s4      
,pfeifer in ,imago#c and their          
analytical value estimated2 ,i may here 
refer the reader to this work4 ,these   
theories endeavour to conjecture  the   
motives of children's play1 though      
without placing any special  stress on  
the #8economic' point of view1 i4 e4    
consideration of the  attainment of     
pleasure4 ,without the intention of     
making a comprehensive  study of these  
phenomena ,i availed myself of an       
opportunity which  offered of           
elucidating the first game invented by  
himself of a boy  eighteen months old4  

,it was more than a casual observation1 
for ,i lived  for some weeks under the  
same roof as the child and his parents1 
and it  was a considerable time before  
the meaning of his puzzling and         
continually repeated performance became 
clear to me4    ,the child was in no    
respect forward in his intellectual     
development2 at  eighteen months he     
spoke only a few intelligible words1    
making besides  sundry significant      
sounds which were understood by those   
about him4 ,but  he made himself        
understood by his parents and the       
maid-servant1 and had  a good reputation
 for behaving #8properly'4 ,he did not  
disturb his  parents at night2 he       
scrupulously obeyed orders about not    
touching  various objects and not going 
into certain rooms2 and above all he    
never  cried when his mother went out   
and left him for hours together1        
although  the tie to his mother was a   
very close one3 she had not only        
nourished  him herself1 but had cared   

for him and brought him up without any  
outside help4 ,occasionally1 however1   
this well-behaved child evinced the     
troublesome habit of flinging into the  
corner of the room or under the  bed all
 the little things he could lay his     
hands on1 so that to gather  up his toys
 was often no light task4 ,he           
accompanied this by an  expression of   
interest and gratification1 emitting a  
loud long-drawn-out  #8o-o-o-oh' which  
in the judgement of the mother 7one that
 coincided with  my own7 was not an     
interjection but meant #8go away'       
7fort74 ,i saw at  last that this was a 
game1 and that the child used all his   
toys only to  play #8being gone'        
7fortsein7 with them4 ,one day ,i made  
an observation  that confirmed my view4 
,the child had a wooden reel with a     
piece of  string wound round it4 ,it    
never occurred to him1 for example1 to  
drag  this after him on the floor and so
 play horse and cart with it1 but he    
kept throwing it with considerable      

skill1 held by the string1 over the     
side of his little draped cot1 so that  
the reel disappeared into it1  then said
 his significant #8o-o-o-oh' and drew   
the reel by the string out  of the cot  
again1 greeting its reappearance with a 
joyful #8,da'  7there74 ,this was       
therefore the complete game1            
disappearance and return1  the first act
 being the only one generally observed  
by the onlookers1  and the one          
untiringly repeated by the child as a   
game for its own sake1  although the    
greater pleasure unquestionably attached
 to the second  act4#d    ,the meaning  
of the game was then not far to seek4   
,it was connected with  the child's     
remarkable cultural achievement--the    
foregoing of the  satisfaction of an    
instinct--as the result of which he     
could let his  mother go away without   
making any fuss4 ,he made it right with 
himself1  so to speak1 by dramatising   
the same disappearance and return with  
the  objects he had at hand4 ,it is of  

course of no importance for the         
affective value of this game whether the
 child invented it himself or  adopted  
it from a suggestion from outside4 ,our 
interest will attach  itself to another 
point4 ,the departure of the mother     
cannot possibly  have been pleasant for 
the child1 nor merely a matter of       
indifference4  ,how then does it accord 
with the pleasure-principle that he     
repeats this  painful experience as a   
game8 ,the answer will perhaps be       
forthcoming  that the departure must be 
played as the necessary prelude to the  
joyful  return1 and that in this latter 
lay the true purpose of the game4 ,as   
against this1 however1 there is the     
observation that the first act1 the     
going away1 was played by itself as a   
game and far more frequently than  the  
whole drama with its joyful conclusion4 
,the analysis of a single case of this  
kind yields no sure conclusion3 on      
impartial consideration one gains the   
impression that it is from another      

motive that the child has turned the    
experience into a game4 ,he was in  the 
first place passive1 was overtaken by   
the experience1 but now brings  himself 
in as playing an active part1 by        
repeating the experience as a  game in  
spite of its unpleasing nature4 ,this   
effort might be ascribed to  the impulse
 to obtain the mastery of a situation   
7the #8power' instinct71  which remains 
independent of any question of whether  
the recollection  was a pleasant one or 
not4 ,but another interpretation may be 
attempted4  ,the flinging away of the   
object so that it is gone might be the  
gratification of an impulse of revenge  
suppressed in real life but  directed   
against the mother for going away1 and  
would then have the  defiant meaning3   
#8,yes1 you can go1 ,i don't want you1  
,i am sending you  away myself4' ,the   
same child a year later than my         
observations used to  throw on the floor
 a toy which displeased him1 and to say 
#8,go to the  war6' ,he had been told   

that his absent father was at the war1  
and he did  not miss him at all1 giving 
the clearest indications that he did not
  wish to be disturbed in the sole      
possession of his mother4#e ,it is      
known of other children also that they  
can give vent to similar hostile        
feelings by throwing objects away in    
place of people4#f ,thus one is  left in
 doubt whether the compulsion to work   
over in psychic life what  has made a   
deep impression1 to make oneself fully  
master of it1 can  express itself       
primarily and independently of the      
pleasure-principle4 ,in  the case       
discussed here1 however1 the child might
 have repeated a  disagreeable          
impression in play only because with the
 repetition was  bound up a pleasure    
gain of a different kind but more       
direct4    ,nor does the further pursuit
 of the question of play resolve our    
hesitations between two conceptions4 ,we
 see that children repeat in  their play
 everything that has made a great       

impression on them in actual  life1 that
 they thereby abreact the strength of   
the impression and so to  speak make    
themselves masters of the situation4    
,but on the other hand it  is clear     
enough that all their play is influenced
 by the dominant wish  of their time of 
life3 viz4 to be grown-up and to be able
 to do what  grown-up people do4 ,it is 
also observable that the unpleasing     
character  of the experience does not   
always prevent its being utilised as a  
game4  ,if a doctor examines a child's  
throat1 or performs a small operation on
  him1 the alarming experience will     
quite certainly be made the subject of  
the next game1 but in this the pleasure 
gain from another source is not  to be  
overlooked4 ,in passing from the        
passivity of experience to the  activity
 of play the child applies to his       
playfellow the unpleasant  occurrence   
that befell himself and so avenges      
himself on the person of  this proxy4   
,from this discussion it is at all      

events evident that it is unnecessary   
to assume a particular imitation impulse
 as the motive of play4 ,we may  add the
 reminder that the dramatic and         
imitative art of adults1 which  differs 
from the behaviour of children in being 
directed towards the  spectator1 does   
not however spare the latter the most   
painful  impressions1 e4 g4 in tragedy1 
and yet can be felt by him as highly    
enjoyable4 ,this convinces us that even 
under the domination of the             
pleasure-principle there are ways and   
means enough of making what is in       
itself disagreeable the object of memory
 and of psychic pre-occupation4  ,a     
theory of aesthetics with an economic   
point of view should deal with  these   
cases and situations ending in final    
pleasure gain3 for our  purposes they   
are of no help1 since they presuppose   
the existence and  supremacy of the     
pleasure-principle and bear no witness  
to the operation  of tendencies beyond  
the pleasure-principle1 that is to say1 

tendencies  which might be of earlier   
origin and independent of this4         
,,iii      ,five-and-twenty years of    
intensive work have brought about a     
complete  change in the more immediate  
aims of psycho-analytic technique4 ,at  
first  the endeavours of the analytic   
physician were confined to divining the 
unconscious of which his patient was    
unaware1 effecting a synthesis of  its  
various components and communicating it 
at the right time4  ,psychoanalysis was 
above all an art of interpretation4     
,since the  therapeutic task was not    
thereby accomplished1 the next aim was  
to  compel the patient to confirm the   
reconstruction through his own memory4  
,in this endeavour the chief emphasis   
was on the resistances of the  patient2 
the art now lay in unveiling these as   
soon as possible1 in  calling the       
patient's attention to them1 and by     
human influence--here  came in          
suggestion acting as                    
#8transference'--teaching him to abandon

 the  resistances4    ,it then became   
increasingly clear1 however1 that the   
aim in view1 the  bringing into         
consciousness of the unconscious1 was   
not fully attainable  by this method    
either4 ,the patient cannot recall all  
of what lies  repressed1 perhaps not    
even the essential part of it1 and so   
gains no  conviction that the conclusion
 presented to him is correct4 ,he is    
obliged rather to repeat as a current   
experience what is repressed1  instead  
of1 as the physician would prefer to see
 him do1 recollecting  it as a fragment 
of the past4#g ,this reproduction       
appearing with  unwelcome fidelity      
always contains a fragment of the       
infantile sex-life1  therefore of the   
,oedipus complex and its off-shoots1 and
 is played  regularly in the sphere of  
transference1 i4 e4 the relationship to 
the  physician4 ,when this point in the 
treatment is reached1 it may be said    
that the earlier neurosis is now        
replaced by a fresh one1 viz4 the       

transference-neurosis4 ,the physician   
makes it his concern to limit the  scope
 of this transference-neurosis as much  
as he can1 to force into  memory as much
 as possible1 and to leave as little as 
possible to  repetition4 ,the relation  
established between memory and          
reproduction is  different for every    
case4 ,as a rule the physician cannot   
spare the  patient this phase of the    
cure2 he must let him live through a    
certain  fragment of his forgotten life1
 and has to see to it that some measure 
of ascendency remains1 in the light of  
which the apparent reality is  always   
recognised as a reflection of a         
forgotten past4 ,if this is             
successfully accomplished then          
conviction on the part of the patient is
  attained1 and with it the therapeutic 
result that depends on it4    ,in order 
to render more comprehensible this      
#8repetition-compulsion'  which appears 
in the psycho-analytic treatment of     
neurotics1 we must  above all get       

entirely rid of the erroneous idea that 
in this struggle  with resistances we   
are concerned with any resistance on the
 part of the  unconscious4 ,the         
unconscious1 i4 e4 the #8repressed'     
material1 offers no  resistance whatever
 to the curative efforts2 indeed it has 
no other aim  than to force its way     
through the pressure weighing on it1    
either to  consciousness or to discharge
 by means of some real action4 ,the     
resistance in the treatment proceeds    
from the same higher levels and  systems
 in the psychic life that in their time 
brought about the  repression4 ,but     
since the motives of the resistances1   
and indeed the  resistances themselves1 
are found in the process of the         
treatment to be  unconscious1 we are    
well advised to amend an inadequacy in  
our mode of  expression4 ,we escape     
ambiguity if we contrast not the        
conscious and the  unconscious1 but the 
coherent ego and the repressed4 ,much in
 the ego is  certainly unconscious      

itself1 just what may be called the     
kernel of the  ego2 only a part of it   
comes under the category of             
preconscious4 ,after  thus replacing a  
purely descriptive method of expression 
by a systematic  or dynamic one1 we may 
say that the resistance on the part of  
the  analysed person proceeds from his  
ego1 and then we at once see that the   
#8repetition-compulsion' must be        
ascribed to the repressed element in the
  unconscious4 ,it probably could not   
find expression till the work of the    
treatment coming to meet it had loosened
 the repression4    ,there is no doubt  
that the resistance of the conscious and
 preconscious  ego subserves the        
pleasure-principle2 it is trying to     
avoid the #8pain'  that would be aroused
 by the release of the repressed        
material1 and our  efforts are directed 
to effecting an entry for such painful  
feeling by  an appeal to the            
reality-principle4 ,in what relation to 
the  pleasure-principle then does the   

repetition-compulsion stand1 that which 
expresses the force of what is          
repressed8 ,it is plain that most of    
what  is revived by the                 
repetition-compulsion cannot but bring  
discomfort to  the ego1 for it promotes 
the bringing to light of the activities 
of  repressed impulses2 but that is a   
discomfort we have already taken into   
account and without subversion of the   
pleasure-principle1 since it is  #8pain'
 in respect of one system and at the    
same time satisfaction for  the other4  
,the new and remarkable fact1 however1  
that we have now to  describe is that   
the repetition-compulsion also revives  
experiences of  the past that contain no
 potentiality of pleasure1 and which    
could at no  time have been             
satisfactions1 even of impulses since   
repressed4    ,the efflorescence of     
infantile sex-life was1 by reason of the
  irreconcilability of its wishes with  
reality and the inadequacy of the       
childhood stage of development reached1 

destined to pass away4 ,it  perished in 
most painful circumstances and with     
feelings of a deeply  distressing       
nature4 ,loss and failure in the sphere 
of the affections  left behind on the   
ego-feeling marks of injury comparable  
to a  narcissistic scar1 which1         
according to my experience and the      
exposition  given by ,marcinowski1#h    
yields the most important contribution  
to the  #8inferiority complex' common   
among neurotics4 ,the sex-quest to which
 the  physical development of the child 
set limits could be brought to no       
satisfying conclusion2 hence the plaint 
in later life3 #8,i can't do  anything1 
,i am never successful4' ,the bonds of  
tenderness linking the  child more      
especially to the parent of the opposite
 sex succumbed to  disappointment1 to   
the vain expectation of satisfaction1   
and to the  jealousy aroused by the     
birth of a new child1 unmistakable proof
 as it  is of the faithlessness of the  
loved parent2 the child's attempt1      

undertaken with tragic seriousness1 to  
produce another such child  himself met 
with humiliating failure2 while the     
partial withdrawal of  the tenderness   
lavished on the little one1 the more    
exacting demands of  discipline and     
education1 severe words and an          
occasional punishment  finally revealed 
to him the whole extent of the disdain  
which is his  portion4 ,some few        
regularly recurring types are to be     
found1 according  to the way in which   
the typical love of this period was     
brought to an  end4    ,all these       
undesired happenings and painful        
affective situations are  repeated by   
neurotics in the #8transference' stage  
and re-animated with  much ingenuity4   
,they struggle to break off the         
unfinished treatment1  they know how to 
re-create the feeling of being          
disdained1 how to force  the physician  
to adopt brusque speech and a chilling  
manner towards  them1 they find suitable
 objects for their jealousy1 they       

substitute for  the ardently desired    
child of early days the promise of some 
great gift  which becomes as little real
 as that was4 ,nothing of all this could
 ever  have afforded any pleasure2 one  
would suppose it ought to bring somewhat
  less #8pain' if revealed as memory    
rather than if lived through as a new   
experience4 ,it is a question naturally 
of the action of impulses that  should  
lead to satisfaction1 but the experience
 that instead of this  they even then   
brought #8pain' has borne no result4    
,the act is repeated  in spite of       
everything2 a powerful compulsion       
insists on it4    ,that which           
psycho-analysis reveals in the          
transference phenomena with  neurotics  
can also be observed in the life of     
normal persons4 ,it here  gives the     
impression of a pursuing fate1 a        
daemonic trait in their  destiny1 and   
psycho-analysis has from the outset     
regarded such a life  history as in a   
large measure self-imposed and          

determined by infantile  influences4    
,the compulsion which thereby finds     
expression is in no way  different from 
the repetition-compulsion of neurotics1 
even though such  persons have never    
shown signs of a neurotic conflict      
resulting in  symptoms4 ,thus one knows 
people with whom every human            
relationship ends  in the same way3     
benefactors whose protgs1 however       
different they may  otherwise have been1
 invariably after a time desert them in 
ill-will1 so  that they are apparently  
condemned to drain to the dregs all the 
bitterness of ingratitude2 men with whom
 every friendship ends in the  friend's 
treachery2 others who indefinitely often
 in their lives invest  some other      
person with authority either in their   
own eyes or generally1  and themselves  
overthrow such authority after a given  
time1 only to  replace it by a new one2 
lovers whose tender relationships with  
women  each and all run through the same
 phases and come to the same end1 and   

so on4 ,we are less astonished at this  
#8endless repetition of the same'  if   
there is involved a question of active  
behaviour on the part of the  person    
concerned1 and if we detect in his      
character an unalterable trait  which   
must always manifest itself in the      
repetition of identical  experiences4   
,far more striking are those cases where
 the person seems to  be experiencing   
something passively1 without exerting   
any influence of  his own1 and yet      
always meets with the same fate over and
 over again4  ,one may recall1 for      
example1 the story of the woman who     
married three  men in succession1 each  
of whom fell ill after a short time and 
whom she  had to nurse till their       
death4#i ,tasso gives a singularly      
affecting  poetical portrayal of such a 
trend of fate in the romantic epic3     
#8,gerusalemme liberata4' ,the hero1    
,tancred1 has unwittingly slain         
,clorinda1 the maiden he loved1 who     
fought with him disguised in the  armour

 of an enemy knight4 ,after her burial  
he penetrates into the  mysterious      
enchanted wood1 the bane of the army of 
the crusaders4 ,here  he hews down a    
tall tree with his sword1 but from the  
gash in the trunk  blood streams forth  
and the voice of ,clorinda whose soul is
 imprisoned  in the tree cries out to   
him in reproach that he has once more   
wrought a  baleful deed on his beloved4 
,in the light of such observations as   
these1 drawn from the behaviour  during 
transference and from the fate of human 
beings1 we may venture  to make the     
assumption that there really exists in  
psychic life a  repetition-compulsion1  
which goes beyond the                   
pleasure-principle4 ,we  shall now also 
feel disposed to relate to this         
compelling force the  dreams of         
shock-patients and the play-impulse in  
children4 ,we must of  course remind    
ourselves that only in rare cases can we
 recognise the  workings of this        
repetition-compulsion in a pure form1   

without the  co-operation of other      
motives4 ,as regards children's play we 
have  already pointed out what other    
interpretations its origin permits4 ,the
  repetition-compulsion and direct      
pleasurable satisfaction of impulse     
seem there to be inextricably           
intertwined4 ,the transference phenomena
  obviously subserve the purpose of the 
resistance made by the ego  persisting  
in its repression3 the                  
repetition-compulsion is1 as it  were1  
called to the aid of the ego1 which is  
resolved to hold fast to  the           
pleasure-principle4 ,in what one might  
call the destiny compulsion  much       
appears capable of rational explanation1
 so that no need is felt  to establish a
 new and mysterious impulse4 ,the least 
suspicious case  is perhaps that of the 
shock-dream1 but on closer examination  
it must  be admitted that in the other  
examples too the state of affairs is not
  completely explained by the operation 
of the motives known to us4  ,there     

remains enough over to justify the      
assumption of a  repetition-compulsion1 
and this seems to us more primitive1    
more  elementary1 more instinctive than 
the pleasure-principle which is         
displaced by it4 ,but if there is such a
 repetition-compulsion in  psychic life1
 we should naturally like to know with  
what function it  corresponds1 under    
what conditions it may appear1 and in   
what relation  it stands to the         
pleasure-principle1 to which we have    
heretofore  ascribed the domination over
 the course of the processes of         
excitation  in the psychic life4        
,,iv      ,what follows now is          
speculation1 speculation often          
far-fetched1 which  each will according 
to his particular attitude acknowledge  
or neglect4  ,or one may call it the    
exploitation of an idea out of curiosity
 to see  whither it will lead4          
,psycho-analytic speculation starts from
 the impression gained on  investigating
 unconscious processes that             

consciousness cannot be the  most       
general characteristic of psychic       
processes1 but merely a special         
function of them4 ,metapsychologically  
expressed1 it asserts that              
consciousness is the functioning of a   
particular system which may be  called  
,bw4 ,since consciousness essentially   
yields perceptions of  excitations      
coming from without and feelings        
7,empfindungen7 of  pleasure and #8pain'
 which can only be derived from within  
the psychic  apparatus1 we may allot the
 system ,w-,bw4#aj 7 perceptual         
consciousness7 a position in space4 ,it 
must lie on the boundary between  outer 
and inner1 must face towards the outer  
world1 and must envelop the  other      
psychic systems4 ,we then note that in  
this assumption we have  ventured       
nothing new1 but are in agreement with  
the localising  tendencies of cerebral  
anatomy1 which places the #8seat' of    
consciousness  in the cortical layer1   
the outermost enveloping layer of the   

central  organ4 ,cerebral anatomy does  
not need to wonder why--anatomically    
speaking--consciousness should be       
accomodated on the surface of the       
brain1 instead of being safely lodged   
somewhere in the deepest recesses  of   
it4 ,perhaps we may carry matters a     
little further than this in our         
deduction of such a position for our    
system ,w-,bw4    ,consciousness is not 
the only peculiar feature that we       
ascribe to the  processes in this       
system4 ,our impressions gained by      
psycho-analytic  experience lead us to  
the supposition that all excitation     
processes in  the other systems leave in
 them permanent traces forming the      
foundations  of memory-records which    
have nothing to do with the question of 
becoming  conscious4 ,they are often    
strongest and most enduring when the    
process  that left them behind never    
reached consciousness at all4 ,but we   
find it  difficult to believe that such 
lasting traces of excitation are formed 

also in the system ,w-,bw4 itself4 ,if  
they remained permanently in            
consciousness they would very soon limit
 the fitness of the system for          
registration of new excitations2#aa on  
the other hand1 if they became          
unconscious we should be confronted with
 the task of explaining the  existence  
of unconscious processes in a system    
whose functioning is  otherwise         
accompanied by the phenomenon of        
consciousness4 ,we should1 so  to speak1
 have gained nothing and altered nothing
 by our supposition  which relegates to 
a special system the process of becoming
 conscious4  ,though this may not be an 
absolutely binding consideration1 it may
 at  any rate lead us to conjecture that
 becoming conscious and leaving  behind 
a memory-trace are processes            
incompatible with each other in the     
same system4 ,we should thus be able to 
say3 in the system ,bw4 the  process of 
excitation becomes conscious but it     
leaves behind no lasting  trace2 all the

 traces of it on which memory relies    
would come about in  the next systems   
inwards from the propagation of the     
excitation on to  them4 ,it is on these 
lines that the scheme is sketched which 
,i inserted  into the speculative       
section of my #8,traumdeutung' in #aijj4
 ,if one  reflects how little we know   
from other sources about the origin of  
consciousness the pronouncement that    
consciousness arises in the place  of   
the memory-trace must be conceded at    
least the importance of a  statement    
which is to some extent definite4       
,the system ,bw4 would thus be          
characterised by the peculiarity that   
the  excitation process does not leave  
in it1 as it does in all other psychic  
systems1 a permanent alteration of its  
elements1 but is as it were  discharged 
in the phenomenon of becoming conscious 
and vanishes4 ,such a  departure from   
the general rule requires an explanation
 on the ground of  a factor which comes 
into account in this one system only3   

this factor  which is absent from all   
other systems might well be the exposed 
situation of the ,bw4 system--its       
immediate contact with the outer world4 
,let us imagine the living organism in  
the simplest possible form as an        
undifferentiated vesicle of sensitive   
substance3 then its surface1  exposed as
 it is to the outer world1 is by its    
very position  differentiated and serves
 as an organ for receiving stimuli4     
,embryology1  repeating as it does the  
history of evolution1 does in fact show 
that  the central nervous system arises 
from the ectoderm2 the grey cortex of   
the brain remains a derivative of the   
primitive superficial layer and  may    
have inherited essential properties from
 this4 ,it would then be  easily        
conceivable that1 owing to the constant 
impact of external  stimuli on the      
superficies of the vesicle1 its         
substance would undergo  lasting        
alteration to a certain depth1 so that  
its excitation process  takes a         

different course from that taken in the 
deeper layers4 ,thus a  rind would be   
formed which would finally have been so 
burned through by  the effects of       
stimulation that it presents the most   
favourable  conditions for the reception
 of stimuli and is incapable of any     
further  modification4 ,applying this   
idea to the system ,bw41 this would mean
 that  its elements are not susceptible 
of any further lasting alteration from  
the passage of the excitation1 because  
they are already modified to the        
uttermost in that respect4 ,but they are
 then capable of giving rise to         
consciousness4 ,in what exactly these   
modifications of the substance and  of  
the excitation process in it consist    
many views may be held which as  yet    
cannot be tested4 ,it may be assumed    
that the excitation has1 in its         
transmission from one element to        
another1 to overcome a resistance1 and  
that this diminution of the resistance  
itself lays down the permanent  trace of

 the excitation 7a path73 in system ,bw4
 there would no longer  exist any such  
resistance to transmission from one     
element to another4  ,we may associate  
with this conception ,breuer's          
distinction between  quiescent 7bound7  
and free-moving #8investment-energy' in 
the elements of  the psychic systems2#ab
 the elements of the system ,bw4 would  
then  convey no #8bound' energy1 only   
free energy capable of discharge4 ,in my
  opinion1 however1 it is better for the
 present to express oneself as to  these
 conditions in the least committal way4 
,at any rate by these  speculations we  
should have brought the origin of       
consciousness into a  certain connection
 with the position of the system ,bw4   
and with the  peculiarities of the      
excitation process to be ascribed to    
this4    ,we have more to say about the 
living vesicle with its receptive outer 
layer4 ,this morsel of living substance 
floats about in an outer world  which is
 charged with the most potent energies1 

and it would be  destroyed by the       
operation of the stimuli proceeding from
 this world if  it were not furnished   
with a protection against stimulation   
7,reizschutz74 ,it acquires this through
 its outermost layer--which gives  the  
structure that belongs to living        
matter--becoming in a measure           
inorganic1 and this now operates as a   
special integument or membrane  that    
keeps off the stimuli1 i4 e4 makes it   
impossible for the energies  of the     
outer world to act with more than a     
fragment of their intensity  on the     
layers immediately below which have     
preserved their vitality4  ,these are   
now able under cover of the protecting  
layer to devote  themselves to the      
reception of those stimulus masses that 
have been let  through4 ,but the outer  
layer has by its own death secured all  
the deeper  layers from a like fate--at 
least so long as no stimuli present     
themselves of such a strength as to     
break through the protective  barrier4  

,for the living organism protection     
against stimuli is almost a  more       
important task than reception of        
stimuli2 the protective barrier is      
equipped with its own store of energy   
and must above all endeavour to  protect
 the special forms of                   
energy-transformations going on within  
itself from the equalising and therefore
 destructive influence of the  enormous 
energies at work in the outer world4    
,the reception of stimuli  serves above 
all the purpose of collecting           
information about the  direction and    
nature of the external stimuli1 and for 
that it must  suffice to take little    
samples of the outer world1 to taste it1
 so to  speak1 in small quantities4 ,in 
highly developed organisms the receptive
  external layer of what was once a     
vesicle has long been withdrawn into    
the depths of the body1 but portions of 
it have been left on the surface        
immediately beneath the common          
protective barrier4 ,these portions form

  the sense organs1 which essentially   
comprise arrangements for the  reception
 of specific stimuli1 but also possess  
special arrangements  adapted for a     
fresh protection against an overwhelming
 amount of  stimulus1 and for warding   
off unsuitable kinds of stimuli4 ,it is 
characteristic of them that they        
assimilate only very small quantities   
of the outer stimulus1 and take in only 
samples of the outer world2 one  might  
compare them to antennae which touch at 
the outer world and then  constantly    
withdraw from it again4    ,at this     
point ,i shall permit myself to touch   
cursorily upon a theme  which would     
deserve the most thorough treatment4    
,the ,kantian proposition  that time and
 space are necessary modes of thought   
may be submitted to  discussion to-day  
in the light of certain knowledge       
reached through  psycho-analysis4 ,we   
have found by experience that           
unconscious mental  processes are in    
themselves #8timeless'4 ,that is to say 

to begin with3  they are not arranged   
chronologically1 time alters nothing in 
them1 nor  can the idea of time be      
applied to them4 ,these are negative    
characteristics1 which can be made plain
 only by instituting a  comparison with 
conscious psychic processes4 ,our       
abstract conception of  time seems      
rather to be derived wholly from the    
mode of functioning of  the system      
,w-,bw41 and to correspond with a       
self-perception of it4 ,in  this mode of
 functioning of the system another form 
of protection  against stimulation      
probably comes into play4 ,i know that  
these  statements sound very obscure1   
but ,i must confine myself to these few 
hints4    ,so far we have got to the    
point that the living vesicle is        
equipped with  a protection against     
stimuli from the outer world4 ,before   
that1 we had  decided that the cortical 
layer next to it must be differentiated 
as the  organ for reception of external 
stimuli4 ,but this sensitive layer 7what

  is later the system ,bw47 also        
receives excitations from within3 the   
position of the system between outer and
 inner and the difference in the        
conditions under which this receptivity 
operates on the two sides become        
deciding factors for the functioning of 
the system and of the whole  psychic    
apparatus4 ,towards the outer world     
there is a barrier against  stimuli1 and
 the mass of excitations coming up      
against it will take  effect only on a  
reduced scale2 towards what is within no
 protection  against stimuli is         
possible1 the excitations of the deeper 
layers pursue  their way direct and in  
undiminished mass into the system1 while
 certain  characteristics of their      
course produce the series of            
pleasure-pain  feelings4 ,naturally the 
excitations coming from within will1 in 
conformity with their intensity and     
other qualitative characteristics  7or  
possibly their amplitude71 be more      
proportionate to the mode of  operation 

of the system than the stimuli streaming
 in from the outer  world4 ,two things  
are1 however1 decisively determined by  
these  conditions3 first the            
preponderance over all outer stimuli of 
the  pleasure and #8pain' feelings1     
which are an index for processes within 
the mechanism2 and secondly a shaping of
 behaviour towards such inner           
excitations as bring with them an       
overplus of #8pain'4 ,there will be a   
tendency to treat them as though they   
were acting not from within but  from   
without1 in order for it to be possible 
to apply against them the  defensive    
measures of the barrier against stimuli 
7,reizschutz74 ,this  is the origin of  
projection1 for which so important a    
part is reserved  in the production of  
pathological states4    ,i have the     
impression that by these last           
considerations we have  approached      
nearer to a comprehension of the        
supremacy of the  pleasure-principle1   
but we have not attained to an          

explanation of those  cases which are   
opposed to it4 ,let us therefore go a   
step further4 ,such  external           
excitations as are strong enough to     
break through the barrier  against      
stimuli we call traumatic4 ,in my       
opinion the concept of trauma  involves 
such a relationship to an otherwise     
efficacious barrier4 ,an  occurrence    
such as an external trauma will         
undoubtedly provoke a very  extensive   
disturbance in the workings of the      
energy of the organism1 and  will set in
 motion every kind of protective        
measure4 ,but the  pleasure-principle is
 to begin with put out of action here4  
,the flooding  of the psychic apparatus 
with large masses of stimuli can no     
longer be  prevented3 on the contrary1  
another task presents itself--to bring  
the  stimulus under control1 to #8bind' 
in the psyche the stimulus mass that    
has broken its way in1 so as to bring   
about a discharge of it4    ,probably   
the specific discomfort of bodily pain  

is the result of some  local breaking   
through of the barrier against stimuli4 
,from this point  in the periphery there
 stream to the central psychic apparatus
 continual  excitations such as would   
otherwise come only from within4#ac     
,what are  we to expect as the reaction 
of the psychic life to this invasion8   
,from  all sides the #8charging energy' 
is called on in order to create all     
round the breach correspondingly high   
#8charges' of energy4 ,an immense       
#8counter-charge' is set up1 in favour  
of which all the other psychic  systems 
are impoverished1 so that a wide-spread 
paralysis or diminution  of other       
psychic activity follows4 ,we endeavour 
to learn from examples  such as these to
 base our metapsychological conjectures 
on such  prototypes4 ,thus from this    
behaviour we draw the conclusion that   
even a  highly charged system is able to
 receive new energy streaming in1 to    
convert it into a #8quiescent charge'1  
thus to #8bind' it psychically4 ,the    

more intense is the intrinsic quiescent 
charge the greater is its  binding      
force3 and conversely the lower the     
charge of the system the  less capable  
is it of receiving the energy that      
streams in1 and so the  more violent are
 the consequences when the barrier      
against stimuli is  broken through4 ,it 
is not a valid objection to this view   
that the  intensifying of the charges   
round the place of irruption could be   
much  more simply explained as the      
direct action of the oncoming mass of   
excitation4 ,if that were so1 the       
psychic apparatus would merely undergo  
an increase of its energy charges1 and  
the paralysing character of pain1  with 
the impoverishment of all the other     
systems1 would remain without           
explanation4 ,nor do the very violent   
discharge effects of pain  invalidate   
our explanation1 for they happen in a   
reflex manner1 that is  to say1 they    
follow without the interposition of the 
psychic apparatus4  ,the indefinite     

nature of all the discussions that we   
term  metapsychological naturally comes 
from the fact that we know nothing      
about the nature of the excitation      
process in the elements of the  psychic 
systems and do not feel justified in    
making any assumption about  it4 ,thus  
we are all the time operating with a    
large ,x1 which we carry  over into     
every new formula4 ,that this process is
 accomplished with  energies which      
differ quantitatively is an easily      
admissible postulate1  that it also has 
more than one quality 7e4g4 in the      
direction of  amplitude7 may be regarded
 as probable3 the new consideration we  
have  brought in is ,breuer's           
proposition that we have to do with two 
ways in  which a system may be filled   
with energy1 so that a distinction has  
to  be made between a #8charging' of the
 psychic systems 7or its elements7  that
 is free-flowing and striving to be     
discharged and one that is  quiescent4  
,perhaps we may admit the conjecture    

that the binding of the  energy         
streaming into the psychic apparatus    
consists in a translating of  it from   
the free-flowing to the quiescent state4
    ,i think one may venture            
7tentatively7 to regard the ordinary    
traumatic  neurosis as the result of an 
extensive rupture of the barrier against
  stimuli4 ,in this way the old nave    
doctrine of #8shock' would come into    
its own again1 apparently in opposition 
to a later and psychologically  more    
pretentious view which ascribes         
aetiological significance not to  the   
effect of the mechanical force1 but to  
the fright and the menace to  life4 ,but
 these opposing views are not           
irreconcilable1 and the  psycho-analytic
 conception of the traumatic neurosis is
 far from being  identical with the     
crudest form of the #8shock' theory4    
,while the latter  takes the essential  
nature of the shock as residing in the  
direct injury  to the molecular         
structure1 or even to the histological  

structure1 of  the nervous elements1 we 
seek to understand the effect of the    
shock by  considering the breaking      
through of the barrier with which the   
psychic  organ is provided against      
stimuli1 and from the tasks with which  
this is  thereby faced4 ,fright retains 
its meaning for us too4 ,what conditions
 it  is the failure of the mechanism of 
apprehension to make the proper         
preparation1 including the over-charging
 of the systems first receiving  the    
stimulus4 ,in consequence of this lower 
degree of charging these  systems are   
hardly in a position to bind the        
oncoming masses of  excitation1 and the 
consequences of the breaking through of 
the  protective barrier appear all the  
more easily4 ,we thus find that the     
apprehensive preparation1 together with 
the over-charging of the  receptive     
systems1 represents the last line of    
defence against stimuli4  ,for a great  
number of traumata the difference       
between the unprepared  systems and     

those prepared by over-charging may turn
 the scale as to the  outcome3 with a   
trauma beyond a certain strength such a 
difference may  no longer be of any     
importance4 ,when the dreams of patients
 suffering  from traumatic neuroses so  
regularly take them back to the         
situation of  the disaster they do not  
thereby1 it is true1 serve the purpose  
of  wish-fulfilment1 the hallucinatory  
conjuring up of which has1 under the    
domination of the pleasure-principle1   
become the function of dreams4 ,but  we 
may assume that they thereby subserve   
another purpose1 which must be          
fulfilled before the pleasure-principle 
can begin its sway4 ,these dreams  are  
attempts at restoring control of the    
stimuli by developing  apprehension1 the
 pretermission of which caused the      
traumatic neurosis4  ,they thus afford  
us an insight into a function of the    
psychic apparatus1  which without       
contradicting the pleasure-principle is 
nevertheless  independent of it1 and    

appears to be of earlier origin than the
 aim of  attaining pleasure and avoiding
 #8pain'4    ,this is therefore the     
moment to concede for the first time an 
exception to the principle that the     
dream is a wish-fulfilment4  ,anxiety   
dreams are no such exception1 as ,i have
 repeatedly and in  detail shown2 nor   
are the #8punishment dreams'1 for they  
merely put in  the place of the         
interdicted wish-fulfilment the         
punishment  appropriate to it1 and are  
thus the wish-fulfilment of the sense of
  guilt reacting on the contemned       
impulse4 ,but the dreams mentioned      
above of patients suffering from        
traumatic neuroses do not permit of     
classification under the category of    
wish-fulfilment1 nor do the  dreams     
occurring during psycho-analysis that   
bring back the  recollection of the     
psychic traumata of childhood4 ,they    
obey rather  the repetition-compulsion1 
which in analysis1 it is true1 is       
supported  by the 7not unconscious7 wish

 to conjure up again what has been      
forgotten and repressed4 ,thus the      
function of the dream1 viz4 to do  away 
with the motives leading to interruption
 of sleep by presenting                 
wish-fulfilments of the disturbing      
excitations1 would not be its  original 
one2 the dream could secure control of  
this function only  after the whole     
psychic life had accepted the domination
 of the  pleasure-principle4 ,if there  
is a #8beyond the pleasure-principle' it
  is logical to admit a prehistoric past
 also for the wish-fulfilling  tendency 
of the dream1 though to do so is no     
contradiction of its  later function4   
,now1 when this tendency is once broken 
through1 there  arises the further      
question3 are such dreams1 which in the 
interests  of the psychical binding of  
traumatic impressions follow the        
repetition-compulsion1 not possible     
apart from analysis8 ,the answer is     
certainly in the affirmative4    ,with  
regard to the war neuroses1 so far as   

the term has any significance  apart    
from a reference to the occasion of the 
appearance of the illness1  ,i have     
explained elsewhere that they might very
 well be traumatic  neuroses which have 
arisen the more easily on account of an 
ego-conflict4#ad ,the fact mentioned on 
page #i1 viz4 that a severe  injury     
inflicted at the same time by the trauma
 lessens the chance of a  neurosis      
arising1 is no longer difficult to      
understand if two  circumstances        
emphasised by psycho-analytic research  
are borne in mind4  ,first that         
mechanical concussion must be recognised
 as one of the  sources of sexual       
excitation 7cp4 the remarks3 #8,the     
effects of swinging  and railway        
travelling' in ,drei ,abhandlungen zur  
,sexualtheorie1 #d4  ,auflage #aibj72   
and1 secondly1 that a painful and       
feverish illness exerts  for the time it
 lasts a powerful influence on the      
distribution of the  libido4 ,thus the  
mechanical force of the trauma would set

 free the quota  of sexual excitation   
which1 in consequence of the lacking    
preparation by  apprehension1 has a     
traumatic effect3 but1 on the other     
hand1 the  contemporaneous bodily injury
 would bind the surplus excitation by   
the  putting in of a claim to a         
narcissistic over-charging of the       
injured  part 7see #8,zur ,einfhrung des
 ,narzissmus'1 ,sammlung kleiner        
,schriften  zur ,neurosenlehre1 ,,iv4   
,folge1 #aiah74 ,it is also known1      
though the idea  has not been           
sufficiently made use of in the ,libido 
theory1 that  disturbances in the       
distribution of the libido so severe as 
those of  melancholia may be removed for
 a time by an intercurrent organic      
disease2 in fact even the condition of a
 fully developed dementia  praecox is   
capable of a transitory improvement in  
these circumstances4                    
,v      ,the fact that the sensitive    
cortical layer has no protective barrier
  against excitations emanating from    

within will have one inevitable         
consequence3 viz4 that these            
transmissions of stimuli acquire        
increased  economic significance and    
frequently give rise to economic        
disturbances  comparable to the         
traumatic neuroses4 ,the most prolific  
sources of such  inner excitations are  
the so-called instincts of the organism1
 the  representatives of all forces     
arising within the body and transmitted 
to  the psychic apparatus--the most     
important and most obscure element in   
psychological research4    ,perhaps we  
shall not find it too rash an assumption
 that the excitations  proceeding from  
the instincts do not conform to the type
 of the #8bound'  but of the free-moving
 nerve processes that are striving for  
discharge4  ,the most trustworthy       
knowledge we have of these processes    
comes from the  study of dreams4 ,there 
we found that the processes in the      
unconscious  systems are fundamentally  
different from those in the             

7pre7conscious2  that in the unconscious
 #8charges' may easily be completely    
transferred1  displaced or condensed1   
while if this happened with preconscious
  material only defective results would 
be obtained4 ,this is the reason  for   
the well-known peculiarities of the     
manifest dream1 after the  preconscious 
residues of the day before have         
undergone elaboration  according to the 
laws of the unconscious4 ,i termed this 
kind of process  in the unconscious the 
psychic #8primary process' in           
contradistinction to  the secondary     
process valid in our normal waking life4
 ,since the  excitations of instincts   
all affect the unconscious systems1 it  
is  scarcely an innovation to say that  
they follow the lines of the primary    
process1 and little more so to identify 
the psychic primary process with  the   
freely mobile charge1 the secondary     
process with changes in ,breuer's  bound
 or tonic charge4#ae ,it would then be  
the task of the higher  layers of the   

psychic apparatus to bind the           
instinct-excitation that  reaches the   
primary process4 ,the failure to effect 
this binding would  evoke a disturbance 
analogous to the traumatic neuroses2 it 
is only  after the binding had been     
successfully accomplished that the      
pleasure-principle 7and its modification
 the reality-principle7 would  have an  
opportunity to assert its sway without  
hindrance4 ,till then1 the  other task  
of the psychic apparatus would take     
precedence1 viz4 to  obtain control of  
or to bind the excitation1 not in       
opposition to the  pleasure-principle   
but independently of it and in part     
without regard to  it4    ,the          
expressions of a repetition-compulsion  
which we have described1  both in the   
early activities of infantile psychic   
life and in the  experiences of         
psycho-analytic treatment1 show in a    
high degree an  instinctive character1  
and1 where they come into contrast with 
the  pleasure-principle1 a daemonic     

character4 ,in the play of children we  
seem to arrive at the conclusion that   
the child repeats even the  unpleasant  
experiences because through his own     
activity he gains a far  more thorough  
mastery of the strong impression than   
was possible by  mere passive           
experience4 ,every fresh repetition     
seems to strengthen  this mastery for   
which the child strives2 even with      
pleasurable  experiences the child      
cannot do enough in the way of          
repetition and  will inexorably insist  
on the identity of the impression4 ,this
  characteristic is destined later to   
disappear4 ,a witticism heard for  the  
second time will almost fail of effect2 
a theatrical performance  will never    
make the same impression the second time
 that it did on the  first occasion2    
indeed it is hard to persuade the adult 
to read again  at all soon a book he has
 enjoyed4 ,novelty is always the        
necessary  condition of enjoyment4 ,the 
child1 however1 never gets tired of     

demanding from a grown-up the repetition
 of a game he has played with  him      
before or has shown him1 till at last   
the grown-up refuses1  utterly worn out2
 similarly if he has been told a pretty 
story1 he  wants always to hear the same
 story instead of a new one1 insists    
inexorably on exact repetition and      
corrects each deviation which the       
narrator lets slip by mistake1 which    
perhaps he even thought to gain  new    
merit by inserting4 ,here there is no   
contradiction of the                    
pleasure-principle3 it is evident that  
the repetition1 the rediscovery  of the 
identity1 is itself a source of         
pleasure4 ,in the case of a  patient in 
analysis1 on the other hand1 it is plain
 that the  compulsion to repeat in the  
transference the occurrences of his     
infantile life disregards in every way  
the pleasure-principle4 ,the  patient   
behaves in this respect completely like 
a child1 and thus  makes it clear to us 
that the repressed memory-traces of his 

primitive  experience are not present in
 a #8bound' form1 are indeed1 in a      
sense1  not capable of the secondary    
process4 ,to this fact of their not     
being  bound they owe their power to    
weave a wish-phantasy that will be      
represented in a dream1 by adhering to  
the residues from waking  experiences4  
,we frequently encounter the same       
repetition-compulsion as  a therapeutic 
obstacle1 when at the end of the        
treatment we wish to  bring about       
complete detachment from the physician2 
and it may be  supposed that the vague  
dread with which those who are          
unfamiliar with  it view analysis1 as   
though they feared to wake what they    
think is  better left to sleep1 is at   
root a fear of the appearance of this   
daemonic compulsion4    ,in what way is 
the instinctive connected with the      
compulsion to  repetition8 ,at this     
point the idea is forced upon us that we
 have  stumbled on the trace of a       
general and hitherto not clearly        

recognised--or at least not expressly   
emphasised--characteristic of  instinct1
 perhaps of all organic life4 ,according
 to this1 an instinct  would be a       
tendency innate in living organic matter
 impelling it towards  the reinstatement
 of an earlier condition1 one which it  
had to abandon  under the influence of  
external disturbing forces--a kind of   
organic  elasticity1 or1 to put it      
another way1 the manifestation of       
inertia in  organic life4#af    ,this   
conception of instinct strikes us as    
strange1 since we are  accustomed to see
 in instinct the factor urging towards  
change and  development1 and now we find
 ourselves required to recognise in it  
the  very opposite1 viz4 the expression 
of the conservative nature of living    
beings4 ,on the other hand1 we soon     
think of those examples in animal  life 
which appear to confirm the idea of     
instinct having been  historically      
conditioned4 ,when certain fish         
undertake arduous journeys  at          

spawning-time1 in order to deposit the  
spawn in certain definite  waters far   
removed from their usual habitats1      
according to the  interpretation of many
 biologists they are only seeking the   
earlier  homes of their kind1 which in  
course of time they have exchanged for  
others4 ,the same is said to be true of 
the migratory flights of birds of       
passage1 but the search for further     
examples becomes superfluous when we    
remember that in the phenomena of       
heredity and in the facts of  embryology
 we have the most imposing proofs of the
 organic compulsion to  repetition4 ,we 
see that the germ cell of a living      
animal is obliged to  repeat in its     
development--although in a fleeting and 
curtailed  fashion--the structures of   
all the forms from which the animal is  
descended1 instead of hastening along   
the shortest path to its own final      
shape4 ,a mechanical explanation of this
 except in some trifling  particulars is
 impossible1 and the historical         

explanation cannot be  disregarded4 ,in 
the same way we find extending far      
upwards in the animal  kingdom a power  
of reproduction whereby a lost organ is 
replaced by the  growth of a new one    
exactly like it4    ,the obvious        
objection1 that it may well be that     
besides the conservative  instincts     
compelling repetition there are others  
which press towards new  formation and  
progress1 should certainly not be left  
unnoticed2 it will  be considered at a  
later stage of our discussion4 ,but we  
may first be  tempted to follow to its  
final consequences the hypothesis that  
all  instincts have as their aim the    
reinstatement of an earlier condition4  
,if what results gives an appearance of 
#8profundity' or bears a  resemblance to
 mysticism1 still we know ourselves to  
be clear of the  reproach of having     
striven after anything of the sort4 ,we 
are in search  of sober results of      
investigation or of reflections based   
upon it1 and  the only character we wish

 for in these results is that of        
certainty4    ,if then all organic      
instincts are conservative1 historically
 acquired1  and are directed towards    
regression1 towards reinstatement of    
something  earlier1 we are obliged to   
place all the results of organic        
development  to the credit of external1 
disturbing and distracting influences4  
,the  rudimentary creature would from   
its very beginning not have wanted to   
change1 would1 if circumstances had     
remained the same1 have always  merely  
repeated the same course of existence4  
,but in the last resort it  must have   
been the evolution of our earth1 and its
 relation to the sun1  that has left its
 imprint on the development of          
organisms4 ,the  conservative organic   
instincts have absorbed every one of    
these enforced  alterations in the      
course of life and have stored them for 
repetition2  they thus present the      
delusive appearance of forces striving  
after  change and progress1 while they  

are merely endeavouring to reach an old 
goal by ways both old and new4 ,this    
final goal of all organic striving  can 
be stated too4 ,it would be counter to  
the conservative nature of  instinct if 
the goal of life were a state never     
hitherto reached4 ,it  must rather be an
 ancient starting point1 which the      
living being left  long ago1 and to     
which it harks back again by all the    
circuitous paths  of development4 ,if we
 may assume as an experience admitting  
of no  exception that everything living 
dies from causes within itself1 and     
returns to the inorganic1 we can only   
say #8,the goal of all life is  death'1 
and1 casting back1 #8,the inanimate was 
there before the  animate4'    ,at one  
time or another1 by some operation of   
force which still  completely baffles   
conjecture1 the properties of life were 
awakened in  lifeless matter4 ,perhaps  
the process was a prototype resembling  
that  other one which later in a certain
 stratum of living matter gave rise to  

consciousness4 ,the tension then aroused
 in the previously inanimate  matter    
strove to attain an equilibrium2 the    
first instinct was present1  that to    
return to lifelessness4 ,the living     
substance at that time had  death within
 easy reach2 there was probably only a  
short course of life  to run1 the       
direction of which was determined by the
 chemical structure  of the young       
organism4 ,so through a long period of  
time the living  substance may have been
 constantly created anew1 and easily    
extinguished1 until decisive external   
influences altered in such a way  as to 
compel the still surviving substance to 
ever greater deviations  from the       
original path of life1 and to ever more 
complicated and  circuitous routes to   
the attainment of the goal of death4    
,these  circuitous ways to death1       
faithfully retained by the conservative 
instincts1 would be neither more nor    
less than the phenomena of life as  we  
now know it4 ,if the exclusively        

conservative nature of the instincts  is
 accepted as true1 it is impossible to  
arrive at any other  suppositions with  
regard to the origin and goal of life4  
,if these conclusions sound strangely in
 our ears1 equally so will those  we are
 led to make concerning the great groups
 of instincts which we  regard as lying 
behind the vital phenomena of organisms4
 ,the postulate  of the                 
self-preservative instincts we ascribe  
to every living being  stands in        
remarkable contrast to the supposition  
that the whole life of  instinct serves 
the one end of bringing about death4    
,the theoretic  significance of the     
instincts of self-preservation1 power   
and  self-assertion1 shrinks to nothing1
 seen in this light2 they are           
part-instincts designed to secure the   
path to death peculiar to the  organism 
and to ward off possibilities of return 
to the inorganic other  than the        
immanent ones1 but the enigmatic        
struggle of the organism to  maintain   

itself in spite of all the world1 a     
struggle that cannot be  brought into   
connection with anything else1          
disappears4 ,it remains to be  added    
that the organism is resolved to die    
only in its own way2 even  these        
watchmen of life were originally the    
myrmidons of death4 ,hence the  paradox 
comes about that the living organism    
resists with all its energy  influences 
7dangers7 which could help it to reach  
its life-goal by a  short way 7a short  
circuit1 so to speak72 but this is just 
the behaviour  that characterises a pure
 instinct as contrasted with an         
intelligent  striving4#ag    ,but we    
must bethink ourselves3 this cannot be  
the whole truth4 ,the  sexual instincts1
 for which the theory of the neuroses   
claims a position  apart1 lead us to    
quite another point of view4 ,not all   
organisms have  yielded to the external 
compulsion driving them to an ever      
further  development4 ,many have        
succeeded in maintaining themselves on  

their low  level up to the present time3
 there are in existence to-day1 if not  
all1  at all events many forms of life  
that must resemble the primitive stages 
of the higher animals and plants4 ,and1 
similarly1 not all the elementary       
organisms that make up the complicated  
body of a higher form of life  take part
 in the whole path of evolution to the  
natural end1 i4e4 death4  ,some among   
them1 the reproductive cells1 probably  
retain the original  structure of the   
living substance and1 after a given     
time1 detach  themselves from the parent
 organism1 charged as they are with all 
the  inherited and newly acquired       
instinctive dispositions4 ,possibly it  
is  just those two features that make   
their independent existence possible4   
,if brought under favourable conditions 
they begin to develop1 that is1  to     
repeat the same cycle to which they owe 
their origin1 the end being  that again 
one portion of the substance carries    
through its development  to a finish1   

while another part1 as a new germinal   
core1 again harks  back to the beginning
 of the development4 ,thus these        
reproductive cells  operate against the 
death of the living substance and are   
able to win  for it what must seem to us
 to be potential immortality1 although  
perhaps it only means a lengthening of  
the path to death4 ,of the highest      
significance is the fact that the       
reproductive cell is fortified for  this
 function1 or only becomes capable of   
it1 by the mingling with  another like  
it and yet different from it4    ,there 
is a group of instincts that care for   
the destinies of these  elementary      
organisms which survive the individual  
being1 that concern  themselves with the
 safe sheltering of these organisms as  
long as they  are defenceless against   
the stimuli of the outer world1 and     
finally  bring about their conjunction  
with other reproductive cells4 ,these   
are  collectively the sexual instincts4 
,they are conservative in the same      

sense as the others are1 in that they   
reproduce earlier conditions of  the    
living substance1 but they are so in a  
higher degree in that they  show        
themselves specially resistant to       
external influences2 and they are  more 
conservative in a wider sense still1    
since they preserve life  itself for a  
longer time4 ,they are the actual       
life-instincts2 the fact  that they run 
counter to the trend of the other       
instincts which lead  towards death     
indicates a contradiction between them  
and the rest1 one  which the theory of  
neuroses has recognised as full of      
significance4  ,there is as it were an  
oscillating rhythm in the life of       
organisms3 the  one group of instincts  
presses forward to reach the final goal 
of life  as quickly as possible1 the    
other flies back at a certain point on  
the  way only to traverse the same      
stretch once more from a given spot and 
thus to prolong the duration of the     
journey4 ,although sexuality and the    

distinction of the sexes certainly did  
not exist at the dawn of life1          
nevertheless it remains possible that   
the instincts which are later  described
 as sexual were active from the very    
beginning and took up the  part of      
opposition to the rle of the            
#8ego-instincts' then1 and not only  at 
some later time4    ,let us now retrace 
our steps for the first time1 to ask    
whether all  these speculations are not 
after all without foundation4 ,are there
  really1 apart from the sexual         
instincts1 no other instincts than those
  which have as their object the        
reinstatement of an earlier condition1  
none that strive towards a condition    
never yet attained8 ,i am not aware  of 
any satisfactory example in the organic 
world running counter to the            
characteristic ,i have suggested4 ,the  
existence of a general impulse  towards 
higher development in the plant and     
animal world can certainly  not be      
established1 though some such line of   

development is as a fact                
unquestionable4 ,but1 on the one hand1  
it is often merely a question of  our   
own valuation when we pronounce one     
stage of development to be  higher than 
another1 and1 on the other hand1 biology
 makes clear to us  that a higher       
development in one particular is often  
purchased with1 or  balanced by1        
retrogression in another4 ,then there   
are plenty of animal  forms the youthful
 stages of which teach us that their    
development has  taken a retrograde     
character rather than otherwise4 ,higher
 development  and retrogression alike   
might well be the results of external   
forces  impelling towards adaptation1   
and the part played by the instincts    
might  be confined in both cases to     
retaining the enforced changes as       
sources  of pleasure4#ah    ,many of us 
will also find it hard to abandon our   
belief that in man  himself there dwells
 an impulse towards perfection1 which   
has brought  him to his present heights 

of intellectual prowess and ethical     
sublimation1 and from which it might be 
expected that his development  into     
superman will be ensured4 ,but ,i do not
 believe in the existence of  such an   
inner impulse1 and ,i see no way of     
preserving this pleasing  illusion4 ,the
 development of man up to now does not  
seem to me to need  any explanation     
differing from that of animal           
development1 and the  restless striving 
towards further perfection which may be 
observed in a  minority of human beings 
is easily explicable as the result of   
that  repression of instinct upon which 
what is most valuable in human culture  
is built4 ,the repressed instinct never 
ceases to strive after its  complete    
satisfaction which would consist in the 
repetition of a primary  experience of  
satisfaction3 all substitution- or      
reaction-formations and  sublimations   
avail nothing towards relaxing the      
continual tension2 and  out of the      
excess of the satisfaction demanded over

 that found is born  the driving        
momentum which allows of no abiding in  
any situation  presented to it1 but in  
the poet's words #8urges ever forward1  
ever  unsubdued' 7,mephisto in          
#8,faust'1 ,act #a4 ,faust's study474   
,the path in the  other direction1 back 
to complete satisfaction1 is as a rule  
barred by  the resistances that maintain
 the repressions1 and thus there remains
  nothing for it but to proceed in the  
other1 still unobstructed  direction1   
that of development1 without1 however1  
any prospect of being  able to bring the
 process to a conclusion or to attain   
the goal4 ,what  occurs in the          
development of a neurotic phobia1 which 
is really nothing  but an attempt at    
flight from the satisfaction of an      
instinct1 gives us  the prototype for   
the origin of this ostensible #8impulse 
towards  perfection' which1 however1 we 
cannot possibly ascribe to all human    
beings4 ,the dynamic conditions are1 it 
is true1 quite generally present1  but  

the economic relations seem only in rare
 cases to favour the  phenomenon4       
,,vi      ,our discussion so far results
 in the establishing of a sharp         
antithesis  between the #8ego-instincts'
 and the sexual instincts1 the former   
impelling towards death and the latter  
towards the preservation of life1  a    
result which we ourselves must surely   
find in many respects far from          
adequate4 ,further1 only for the former 
can we properly claim the               
conservative--or1 better1               
regressive--character corresponding to a
  repetition-compulsion4 ,for according 
to our hypothesis the ego-instincts     
spring from the vitalising of inanimate 
matter1 and have as their aim  the      
reinstatement of lifelessness4 ,as to   
the sexual instincts on the  other hand3
 it is obvious that they reproduce      
primitive states of the  living being1  
but the aim they strive for by every    
means is the union of  two germ cells   
which are specifically differentiated4  

,if this union does  not take place1    
then the germ cell dies like all other  
elements of the  multicellular organism4
 ,only on this condition can the sexual 
function  prolong life and lend it the  
semblance of immortality4 ,of what      
important  happening then in the process
 of development of the living substance 
is  sexual reproduction1 or its         
forerunner1 the copulation of two       
individual  protozoa1 the repetition8   
,that question we do not know how to    
answer1  and therefore we should feel   
relieved if the whole structure of our  
arguments were to prove erroneous4 ,the 
opposition of ego- 7or death-7          
instincts and sexual 7life-7 instincts  
would then disappear1 and the           
repetition-compulsion would thereupon   
also lose the significance we have      
attributed to it4    ,let us turn back  
therefore to one of the assumptions we  
interpolated1 in  the expectation that  
it will permit of exact refutation4 ,we 
built up  further conclusions on the    

basis of the assumption that all life   
must  die from internal causes4 ,we made
 this assumption so light-heartedly     
because it does not seem to us to be    
one4 ,we are accustomed so to think1    
and every poet encourages us in the     
idea4 ,perhaps we have resolved so to   
think because there lies a certain      
consolation in this belief4 ,if man     
must himself die1 after first losing his
 most beloved ones by death1 he  would  
prefer that his life be forfeit to an   
inexorable law of nature1  the sublime 1
 than to a mere accident which perhaps  
could have  been in some way avoided4   
,but perhaps this belief in the         
incidence of  death as the necessary    
consequence of an inner law of being is 
also only  one of those illusions that  
we have fashioned for ourselves #8so as 
to  endure the burden of existence'4 ,it
 is certainly not a primordial  belief3 
the idea of a #8natural death' is alien 
to primitive races2 they  ascribe every 
death occurring among themselves to the 

influence of an  enemy or an evil       
spirit4 ,so let us not neglect to turn  
to biological  science to test the      
belief4    ,if we do so1 we may be      
astonished to find how little agreement 
exists  among biologists on the question
 of natural death1 that indeed the very 
conception of death altogether eludes   
them4 ,the fact of a certain  average   
length of life1 at least among the      
higher animals1 is of course  an        
argument for death from inner causes1   
but the circumstance that  certain large
 animals and giant trees reach a very   
great age1 one not to  be computed up to
 now1 once more removes this impression4
 ,according to  the grandiose conception
 of ,w4 ,fliess all the vital           
phenomena--and  certainly also          
death--are linked with the              
accomplishment of certain  periods of   
time1 among which there finds expression
 the dependence of  two living          
substances1 one male and one female1    
upon the solar year4 ,but  observations 

of how easily and extensively the       
influences of external  forces can alter
 vital manifestations1 especially in the
 plant world1 as  to their occurrence in
 time1 can hasten or retard them1       
militate against  the rigidity of the   
formulae laid down by ,fliess and leaves
 at least  doubtful the universality of 
the laws he sought to establish4    ,the
 treatment of these themes1 death and   
the duration of life among  organisms1  
in the works of ,a4 ,weismann#ai        
possesses the greatest  interest for us4
 ,this investigator originated the      
distinction of living  substance into a 
mortal and an immortal half2 the mortal 
is the body in  the narrower sense1 the 
soma1 which alone is subject to natural 
death2  while the germ cells are        
potentially immortal1 in so far as they 
are  capable under certain favourable   
conditions of developing into a new     
individual1 or expressed otherwise1 of  
surrounding themselves with a new       
soma4#bj    ,what here arrests our      

attention is the unexpected analogy with
 our  conception developed along so     
different a line of thought4 ,weismann1 
who  is considering living substance    
morphologically1 recognises in it a     
constituent which is the prey of death1 
the soma1 the body viewed apart  from   
sex or heredity elements1 and1 on the   
other hand1 an immortal part1  the      
germ-plasm1 which serves the purpose of 
preservation of the species1  of        
propagation4 ,we have fixed our         
attention not on the living matter1  but
 on the forces active in it1 and have   
been led to distinguish two  kinds of   
instincts3 those the purpose of which is
 to guide life towards  death1 and the  
others1 the sexual instincts1 which     
perpetually strive  for1 and bring      
about1 the renewal of life4 ,this sounds
 like a dynamic  corollary to           
,weismann's morphological theory4       
,this appearance of an important        
correspondence vanishes as soon as we   
examine ,weismann's pronouncement on the

 problem of death4 ,for ,weismann       
admits the differentiation between the  
mortal soma and the immortal  germ-plasm
 only in relation to multicellular      
organisms2 with the  unicellular beings 
the individual and the reproductive cell
 are still  one and the same4#ba ,the   
unicellular he thus affirms to be       
potentially  immortal2 death appears    
only among the metazoa1 the             
multicellular4 ,this  death of the      
higher organisms is1 it is true1 a      
natural one1 a death  from inner causes1
 but it does not depend on an inherent  
quality of the  living substance1#bb is 
not to be conceived as an absolute      
necessity  based on the nature of       
life4#bc ,death is rather a purposive   
contrivance1 a phenomenon of adaptation 
to the external conditions of  life1    
because after the differentiation of the
 corporeal cells into soma  and         
germ-plasm the indefinite prolongation  
of the life of the individual  would    
have become a quite inexpedient luxury4 

,with the appearance of  this           
differentiation among multicellular     
organisms death became possible  and    
expedient4 ,since then the soma of the  
higher organisms dies after a  certain  
time from internal causes2 the protozoa1
 however1 remain  immortal4             
,propagation1 on the other hand1 was not
 first introduced with  death2 it is on 
the contrary a primordial property of   
living matter like  growth1 in which it 
originated1 and life has gone on        
uninterruptedly  from its inception on  
the earth4#bd    ,it is easy to see that
 to concede natural death to the higher 
organisms  does not greatly help our    
case4 ,if death is a late acquisition of
 life1  then death instincts traceable  
to the beginning of life on this planet 
no longer come into question4           
,multicellular organisms may continue to
  die from internal causes1 whether     
defect of differentiation or            
imperfections of their metabolism2 it   
possesses no interest for the  inquiry  

on which we are engaged4 ,such a        
conception and derivation of  death     
certainly more nearly approaches the    
ordinary human view of it  than the     
unwonted assumption of                  
#8death-instincts'4    ,the discussion  
which has centred round ,weismann's     
assertations has in my  opinion had no  
decisive result in any direction4#be    
,many writers have  reverted to the     
standpoint of ,goette 7#ahhc7 who saw in
 death the direct  consequence of       
propagation4 ,hartmann does not regard  
as the  characteristic of death the     
appearance of a #8corpse'1 a piece of   
living  substance which has #8died off'1
 but defines it as the #8definitive end 
of  individual development'4 ,in this   
sense protozoa are also subject to      
death2 with them death invariably       
coincides with propagation1 but it is1  
so to speak1 disguised by the latter1   
for the whole substance of the  parent  
organism may be absorbed directly into  
the new individuals4#bf    ,the interest

 of the inquiry was soon directed       
towards testing  experimentally the     
asserted immortality of living substance
 in  unicellular beings4 ,an ,american1 
named ,woodruff1 instituted a culture of
  a ciliated infusorium1 a              
#8slipper-animalcule'1 which reproduces 
itself  by division into two            
individuals2 each time he isolated one  
of the  products and put it into fresh  
water4 ,he traced the propagation to the
  #cjbith generation1 when he           
discontinued the experiment4 ,the last  
descendant of the first                 
slipper-animalcule was just as lively as
 its  original ancestor1 without any    
sign of age or degeneration3 if such    
numbers are convincing1 the immortality 
of protozoa seemed thus  experimentally 
demonstrable4#bg    ,other investigators
 have arrived at other results4 ,maupas1
 ,calkins1  etc41 found1 in             
contradiction to ,woodruff1 that even   
these infusoria  after a certain number 
of divisions become weaker1 decrease in 

size1  lose a portion of their          
organisation1 and finally die if they do
 not  encounter certain invigorating    
influences4 ,according to this1 protozoa
  die after a phase of senile decay just
 like higher animals1 in direct         
contravention of what is maintained by  
,weismann1 who recognises in death  a   
late acquisition of living organisms4   
,taking the net result of these         
researches together1 we note two facts  
which seem to afford us a firm foothold4
 ,first3 if the animalculae1 at a  time 
when they as yet show no signs of age1  
have the opportunity of  mingling with  
each other1 of                          
#8conjugating'--afterwards again        
separating--then they remain exempt from
 age1 they have been  #8rejuvenated'4   
,this conjugation is doubtless the      
prototype of sexual  propagation of     
higher organisms3 as yet it has nothing 
to do with  multiplication1 it is       
confined to the mingling of the         
substances of both  individuals         

7,weismann's ,amphimixis74 ,the         
invigorating influence of  conjugation  
can also be replaced1 however1 by       
certain modes of  stimulation1 changes  
in the composition of the nutrient      
fluid1 raising  of temperature1 or      
shaking4 ,the famous experiment of ,j4  
,loeb will be  recalled1 who by the     
application of certain chemical stimuli 
to the ova  of sea-urchins brought about
 processes of division which usually    
take  place only after fertilisation4   
,secondly3 it is after all probable that
 the infusoria are brought to a  natural
 death through their own vital process1 
for the contradiction  between          
,woodruff's findings and those of others
 arises from ,woodruff  having placed   
each generation in fresh nutrient fluid4
 ,when he refrained  from doing so he   
observed1 as did the other              
investigators1 that the  generations    
showed signs of age4 ,he concluded that 
the animalculae were  injured by the    
products of metabolism which they gave  

off into the  surrounding fluid1 and was
 then able to prove convincingly that   
only the  products of its own metabolism
 had this effect in bringing about the  
death of the generation4 ,for in a      
solution over-saturated with waste      
products of a distantly related species 
the very same animalculae throve        
excellently which when allowed to       
accumulate in their own nutrient fluid  
inevitably perished4 ,thus1 left to     
itself1 the infusorium dies a natural   
death from the imperfect disposal of its
 own metabolic products3 perhaps  all   
higher animals die ultimately from the  
same inability4    ,at this point the   
doubt may then occur to us whether any  
good purpose  has been served in looking
 for the answer to the question as to   
natural  death in the study of the      
protozoa4 ,the primitive organisation of
 these  forms of life may conceal from  
us important conditions which are       
present  in them too1 but can be        
recognised only among the higher animals

 where  they have achieved for          
themselves a morphological expression4  
,if we  abandon the morphological point 
of view for the dynamic1 it may be a    
matter of entire indifference to us     
whether the natural death of the        
protozoa can be proved or not4 ,with    
them the substance later recognised  as 
immortal has not yet separated itself in
 any way from the part  subject to      
death4 ,the instinctive forces which    
endeavour to conduct life  to death     
might be active in them too from the    
beginning and yet their  effect might be
 so obscured by that of the forces      
tending to preserve  life that any      
direct evidence of their existence      
becomes hard to  establish4 ,we have    
heard1 it is true1 that the observations
 of  biologists allow us to assume such 
death-ward tending inner processes  also
 among the protozoa4 ,but even if the   
protozoa prove to be immortal  in       
,weismann's sense1 his assertion that   
death is a late acquisition  holds good 

only of the outward manifestations of   
death1 and does not  invalidate any     
hypothesis as to such processes as impel
 towards death4  ,our expectation that  
biology would entirely put out of court 
any  recognition of the death-instincts 
has not been fulfilled4 ,it is open to  
us to occupy ourselves further with this
 possibility1 if we have other  reasons 
for doing so4 ,the striking resemblance 
between ,weismann's  separation of soma 
and germ-plasm and our distinction      
between the death  and the              
life-instincts remains unshaken1        
moreover1 and retains its  value4       
,let us dwell for a moment on this      
exquisitely dualistic conception of  the
 instinctive life4 ,according to ,e4    
,hering's theory of the processes  in   
living matter there course through it   
uninterruptedly two kinds of  processes 
of opposite direction1 one anabolic1    
assimilatory1 the other  katabolic1     
disintegrating4 ,shall we venture to    
recognise in these two  directions of   

the vital processes the activity of our 
two instinctive  tendencies1 the        
life-instincts and the death-instincts8 
,and we cannot  disguise another fact   
from ourselves1 that we have steered    
unawares into  the haven of             
,schopenhauer's philosophy for whom     
death is the #8real  result' of life#bh 
and therefore in so far its aim1 while  
the sexual  instinct is the incarnation 
of the will to live4    ,let us boldly  
try to go a step further4 ,according to 
general opinion the  union of numerous  
cells into one vital connection1 the    
multicellularity  of organisms1 has     
become a means to the prolongation of   
their span of  life4 ,one cell helps to 
preserve the life of the others1 and the
  cell-community can go on living even  
if single cells have to perish4 ,we     
have already heard that also            
conjugation1 the temporary mingling of  
two  unicellular entities1 has a        
preservative and rejuvenating effect on 
both4 ,the attempt might consequently be

 made to transfer the ,libido  theory   
yielded by psycho-analysis to the       
relationship of the cells to  one       
another and to imagine that it is the   
vital or sexual instincts  active in    
every cell that take the other cells for
 their #8object'1  partially neutralise 
their death-instincts1 i4 e4 the        
processes  stimulated by these1 and so  
preserve those cells in life1 while     
other  cells do the same for them1 and  
still others sacrifice themselves in the
  exercise of this libidinous function4 
,the germ cells themselves would  behave
 in a completely #8narcissistic'        
fashion1 as we are accustomed to        
describe it in the theory of the        
neuroses when an individual             
concentrates his libido on the ego1 and 
gives out none of it for the  charging  
of objects4 ,the germ cells need their  
libido--the activity of  their vital    
instincts--for themselves as a provision
 for their later  enormous constructive 
activity4 ,perhaps the cells of the     

malignant  growths that destroy the     
organism can also be considered to be   
narcissistic in the same sense4         
,pathology is indeed prepared to regard 
the kernels of them as congenital in    
origin and to ascribe embryonal         
attributes to them4 ,thus the ,libido of
 our sexual instincts would  coincide   
with the ,eros of poets and             
philosophers1 which holds together  all 
things living4    ,at this point        
opportunity offers of reviewing the     
gradual development of  our ,libido     
theory4 ,the analysis of the            
transference-neuroses forced on  our    
notice in the first place the opposition
 between #8sexual instincts'  which are 
directed towards an object and other    
instincts which we only  imperfectly    
discerned and provisionally described as
 #8ego-instincts'4  ,among the latter   
those which subserve the                
self-preservation of the  individual had
 the first claim for recognition4 ,what 
other distinctions  were to be made1 it 

was impossible to say4 ,no knowledge    
would have been  so important for the   
establishment of a sound psychology as  
some  approximate understanding of the  
common nature and possible differences  
of the instincts4 ,but in no department 
of psychology did one grope more  in the
 dark4 ,everyone posited as many        
instincts or #8fundamental  instincts'  
as he pleased1 and contrived with them  
just as the ancient  ,greek philosophers
 did with their four elements3 earth1   
air1 fire and  water4 ,psycho-,analysis1
 which could not dispense with some kind
 of  hypothesis as to the instincts1    
adhered to begin with to the popular    
distinction1 typically represented by   
the phrase #8hunger and love'4 ,it  was 
at least no new arbitrary creation4     
,with this one adequately covered  a    
considerable distance in the analysis of
 the psychoneuroses4 ,the  conception of
 #8sexuality'--and therewith that of a  
sexual  instinct--certainly had to ,be  
extended1 till it included much that did

  not come into the category of the     
function of propagation1 and this led   
to outcry enough in a severe and        
superior or merely hypocritical world4  
,the next step followed when            
,psycho-,analysis was able to feel its  
way a  little nearer to the             
psychological ego1 which was at first   
known to us  only as a repressing1      
censoring agency1 capable of            
constituting  defences and              
reaction-formations4 ,critical and other
 far-seeing minds  had indeed for a long
 time raised objections to the narrowing
 of the  libido concept down to the     
energy of the sexual instinct as        
directed  to the object4 ,but they      
omitted to say whence they obtained this
  fuller comprehension1 and failed to   
deduce anything from it of value  for   
,psycho-,analysis4 ,in the course of    
more deliberate advance it came  under  
psycho-analytic observation how         
regularly libido is withdrawn  from the 
object and directed towards the ego     

7introversion71 and  through the study  
of the libido-development of the child  
in its  earliest phases it became clear 
that the ego is the true and original   
reservoir of the libido1 which is       
extended to the object only from  this4 
,the ego took its place as one of the   
sexual objects and was  immediately     
recognised as the choicest among them4  
,where the libido  thus remained        
attached to the ego it was termed       
#8narcissistic'4#bi  ,this narcissistic 
libido was naturally also the expression
 of the  energy of sexual instincts in  
the analytical sense which now had to be
  identified with the #8instincts of    
self-preservation'1 the existence of    
which was admitted from the first4      
,whereupon the original antithesis      
between the ego-instincts and the sexual
 instincts became inadequate4  ,a part  
of the ego-instincts was recognised as  
libidinous3 in the ego  sexual instincts
 were found to be active--probably in   
addition to  others2 nevertheless one is

 justified in saying that the old       
formula1  viz4 that a psychoneurosis    
arises out of a conflict between the    
ego-instincts and the sexual instincts1 
contained nothing that we  should have  
to reject to-day4 ,only1 the difference 
of the two kinds of  instincts which was
 supposed originally to be in some kind 
of way  qualitative has now to be       
defined otherwise1 namely on a          
topographical  basis4 ,in particular the
 transference-neurosis1 the real object 
of  psycho-analytic study1 is still seen
 to be the result of a conflict  between
 the ego and libidinous investment of an
 object4    ,we are the more compelled  
now to accentuate the libidinous        
character of  the self-preservative     
instincts1 since we are venturing on the
 further  step of recognising the sexual
 instinct as the ,eros1 the             
all-sustaining1  and of deriving the    
narcissistic libido of the ego from the 
sum of the  libido quantities that bring
 about the mutual adherence of the      

somatic  cells4 ,but we now find        
ourselves suddenly confronted with this 
question3  ,if the self-preservative    
instincts are also of a libidinous kind1
 then  perhaps we have no other         
instincts at all than libidinous ones4  
,there  are at least no others apparent4
 ,in that event we must admit the       
critics  to be in the right who from the
 first have suspected that              
psycho-analysis makes sexuality the     
explanation of everything1 or the       
innovators like ,jung who1 quickly      
making up their mind1 have used         
#8libido' as a synonym for #8instinctive
 force' in general4 ,is that not  so8   
,this result was at all events one not  
intended by us4 ,on the contrary1  we   
took as our starting point a sharp      
distinction between the  ego-instincts 7
 death-instincts7 and the sexual        
instincts 7  life-instincts74 ,we were  
prepared indeed to reckon even the      
alleged  self-preservative instincts of 
the ego among death-instincts1 a        

position  which we have since corrected 
and withdrawn from4 ,our standpoint was 
a  dualistic one from the beginning1 and
 is so to-day more sharply than  before1
 since we no longer call the contrasting
 tendencies egoistic and  sexual        
instincts1 but life-instincts and       
death-instincts4 ,jung's libido  theory1
 on the other hand1 is a monistic one2  
that he has applied the  term libido to 
his only instinctive energy was bound to
 create  confusion1 but should not have 
any further effect on us4 ,we suspect   
that  there are in the ego other        
instincts than those of                 
self-preservation2  only we ought to be 
in a position to demonstrate them4      
,unfortunately so  little progress has  
been made in the analysis of the ego    
that this proof  becomes extraordinarily
 difficult of attainment4 ,the          
libidinous  instincts of the ego may    
indeed be conjoined in a special way    
with other  ego-instincts of which we as
 yet know nothing4 ,before ever we had  

clearly recognised narcissism1 the      
conjecture was already present in the   
minds of psychoanalysts that the        
#8ego-instincts' had drawn libidinous   
components to themselves4 ,but these are
 merely vague possibilities which  our  
opponents will hardly take into account4
 ,it remains an awkward fact  that      
analysis up to now has only put us in   
the position of demonstrating           
libidinous impulses4 ,the conclusion    
that therefore there are no others  is  
one to which we do not assent4    ,in   
the obscurity that at present shrouds   
the theory of instinct1 we  shall       
certainly not do well to reject any idea
 that promises to throw  light4 ,we have
 made the antithesis between the life   
and death-instincts  our point of       
departure4 ,object-love itself displays 
a second such  polarity1 that of love   
7tenderness7 and hate 7aggression74     
,what if we  could succeed in bringing  
these two polarities into relation with 
each  other1 in tracing the one to the  

other6 ,we have long recognised a       
sadistic component of the sexual        
instinct3#cj it can1 as we know1  attain
 independence1 and as a perversion1     
dominate the whole sexual  trend of a   
person4 ,in one of the organisations    
which ,i have termed  #8pregenital' it  
appears as a dominating part-instinct4  
,but how is one to  derive the sadistic 
impulse1 which aims at the injury of the
 object1  from the life-sustaining      
,eros6 ,does not the assumption suggest 
itself  that this sadism is properly a  
death-instinct which is driven apart    
from  the ego by the influence of the   
narcissistic libido1 so that it becomes 
manifest only in reference to the       
object8 ,it then enters the service of  
the sexual function2 at the oral stage  
of organisation of the libido1  amorous 
possession is still one and the same as 
annihilation of the  object2 later the  
sadistic impulse separates itself1 and  
at last at the  stage of the genital    
primacy it takes over with the aim of   

propagation  the function of so far     
overpowering the sex-object as the      
carrying out  of the sexual act demands4
 ,one might even say that the sadism    
expelled  from the ego has acted as     
guide to the libidinous components of   
the  sexual instinct2 these later press 
on towards the object4 ,where the       
original sadism experiences no abatement
 or fusion1 the well-known  hate-love   
ambivalence of the love-life is set up4 
,if the above assumption is justifiable 
then we have met the challenge of       
demonstrating an example of a           
death-instinct--though a displaced one4 
,this conception1 however1 is far from  
being evident1 and creates a  frankly   
mystical impression4 ,we incur the      
suspicion of having attempted  at all   
costs to find a way out of an impasse4  
,we may appeal against  this verdict by 
saying that the assumption is no new    
one1 that we have  once before made it  
when there was no question of an        
impasse4 ,clinical  observations forced 

upon us the view that the part-instinct 
of  masochism1 the one complementary to 
sadism1 is to be understood as a  recoil
 of the sadism on to the ego itself4#ca 
,a turning of the instinct  from the    
object to the ego is1 however1          
essentially the same as a  turning from 
the ego to the object1 which is just now
 the new idea in  question4 ,masochism1 
the turning of the instinct against the 
self1 would  then be in reality a return
 to an earlier phase of this1 a         
regression4  ,the exposition ,i then    
gave of masochism needs correction in   
one respect  as being too exclusive3    
masochism may also be what ,i was there 
concerned  to deny1 primary4#cb    ,let 
us return1 however1 to the              
life-sustaining sexual instincts4 ,we   
have  already learned from the          
investigation of the protozoa that the  
mingling  of two individuals without    
consequent partition1 just as copulation
  between two individuals which soon    
after separate1 has a strengthening  and

 rejuvenating effect 7v4 s4 ,lipschtz74 
,there is no sign of  degeneration in   
their descendents1 and they also seem to
 have gained the  capacity for          
withstanding for a longer time the      
injurious results of  their own         
metabolism4 ,i think that this one      
observation may be taken as  a prototype
 of the effect of sexual intercourse    
also4 ,but in what way  does the        
blending of two slightly different cells
 bring about such a  renewal of life8   
,the experiment which substitutes for   
conjugation among  protozoa the effect  
of chemical or even of mechanical       
stimuli#cc admits  of our giving a reply
 with certainty3 it comes about by the  
introduction  of new stimulus masses4   
,this is in close agreement with the    
hypothesis  that the life-process of an 
individual leads1 from internal causes1 
to  the equalising of chemical tensions3
 i4 e4 to death1 while union with an    
individually different living substance 
increases these tensions--so to  speak1 

introduces new vital differentia1 which 
then have to be again  lived out4 ,for  
this difference between the two there   
must naturally be  one or more optima4  
,our recognition that the ruling        
tendency of psychic  life1 perhaps of   
nerve life altogether1 is the struggle  
for reduction1  keeping at a constant   
level1 or removal of the inner stimulus 
tension  7the ,nirvana-principle1 as    
,barbara ,low terms it7--a struggle     
which comes  to expression in the       
pleasure-principle--is indeed one of our
 strongest  motives for believing in the
 existence of death-instincts4    ,but  
the course of our argument is still     
disturbed by an uneasy feeling  that    
just in the case of the sexual instinct 
we are unable to  demonstrate that      
character of a repetition-compulsion    
which first put us  on the track of the 
death-instincts4 ,it is true that the   
realm of  embryonic developmental       
processes offers an abundance of such   
repetition  phenomena--the two germ     

cells of sexual propagation and their   
life  history are themselves only       
repetitions of the beginning of organic 
life3 but the essential feature in the  
processes designed by the sexual        
instinct is nevertheless the mingling of
 two cells4 ,only by this is the        
immortality of the living substance     
among the higher forms of life  assured4
    ,to put it in other words3 we have  
to make enquiry into the origin of      
sexual propagation and the source of the
 sexual instincts in general1 a  task   
before which the lay mind quails and    
which even specialists have  not yet    
been able to solve4 ,let us1 therefore1 
make a condensed  selection from all the
 conflicting accounts and opinions of   
whatever can  be brought into relation  
with our train of thought4    ,one view 
deprives the problem of propagation of  
its mysterious  attraction by           
representing it as part of the          
phenomenon of growth  7multiplication by
 division1 germination1 budding74 ,the  

arising of  propagation by means of germ
 cells sexually differentiated might be 
conceived1 in accordance with the sober 
,darwinian mode of thought1 as a  way of
 maintaining and utilising for further  
development the advantage  of the       
amphimixis which resulted in the first  
instance from the  fortuitous           
conjugation of two protozoa4#cd #8,sex' 
would not thus be of  very ancient      
origin and the extraordinarily powerful 
instincts which aim  at bringing about  
sexual union would thereby repeat       
something which once  chanced to happen 
and since became established as being   
advantageous4    ,the same question now 
recurs as arose in respect of           
death--namely1  whether the protozoa can
 be credited with anything beyond what  
they  exhibit1 and whether we may assume
 that forces and processes which  become
 perceptible only in the case of the    
higher animals did first  arise in the  
more primitive4 ,for our purpose the    
view of sexuality  mentioned above helps

 very little4 ,the objection may be     
raised against  it that it presupposes  
the existence of life-instincts as      
already  operative in the simplest forms
 of life1 for otherwise conjugation1    
which works against the expiration of   
life and makes the task of dying        
harder1 would not have been retained and
 elaborated1 but would have been        
avoided4 ,if1 then1 we are not to       
abandon the hypothesis of               
death-instincts maintained1 we must     
associate them with life-instincts  from
 the beginning4 ,but we must admit that 
we are working here at an  equation with
 two unknown quantities4 ,anything else 
that science can  tell us of the origin 
of sexuality amounts to so little that  
this  problem may be likened to an      
obscurity into which not even the ray of
 an  hypothesis has penetrated4 ,in     
quite another quarter1 however1 we      
encounter such an hypothesis1 but it is 
of so fantastic a kind--assuredly  a    
myth rather than a scientific           

explanation--that ,i should not venture 
to  bring it forward if it did not      
exactly fulfil the one condition for the
  fulfilment of which we are labouring4 
,that is to say1 it derives an  instinct
 from the necessity for the             
reinstatement of an earlier  situation4 
,i refer1 of course1 to the theory that 
,plato in his ,symposium puts into  the 
mouth of ,aristophanes and which deals  
not only with the origin of  the sexual 
instinct but also with its most         
important variations in  relation to the
 object4 #8,human nature was once quite 
other than now4  ,originally there were 
three sexes1 three and not as to-day    
two3 besides  the male and the female   
there existed a third sex which had an  
equal  share in the two first4444 ,in   
these beings everything was double3     
thus1  they had four hands and four     
feet1 two faces1 two genital parts1 and 
so  on4 ,then ,zeus allowed himself to  
be persuaded to cut these beings in     
two1 as one divides pears to stew       

them4444 ,when all nature was divided   
in this way1 to each human being came   
the longing for his own other  half1 and
 the two halves embraced and entwined   
their bodies and desired  to grow       
together again4'#ce    ,are we to follow
 the clue of the poet-philosopher and   
make the daring  assumption that living 
substance was at the time of its        
animation rent  into small particles1   
which since that time strive for reunion
 by means  of the sexual instincts8     
,that these instincts--in which the     
chemical  affinity of inanimate matter  
is continued--passing through the realm 
of  the protozoa gradually overcome all 
hindrances set to their striving by  an 
environment charged with stimuli        
dangerous to life1 and are impelled  by 
it to form a protecting covering layer8 
,and that these dispersed  fragments of 
living substance thus achieve a         
multicellular organisation1  and finally
 transfer to the germ cells in a highly 
concentrated form the  instinct for     

reunion8 ,i think this is the point at  
which to break off4    ,but not without 
a few words of critical reflection in   
conclusion4 ,i  might be asked whether  
,i am myself convinced of the views here
 set  forward1 and if so how far4 ,my   
answer would be that ,i am neither      
convinced myself1 nor am ,i seeking to  
arouse conviction in others4  ,more     
accurately3 ,i do not know how far ,i   
believe in them4 ,it seems to  me that  
the affective feature #8conviction' need
 not come into  consideration at all    
here4 ,one may surely give oneself up to
 a line of  thought1 and follow it up as
 far as it leads1 simply out of         
scientific  curiosity1 or--if you       
prefer--as advocatus diaboli1 without1  
however1  making a pact with the devil  
about it4 ,i am perfectly aware that the
  third step in the theory of instinct  
which ,i am taking here cannot  claim   
the same certainty as the two former    
ones1 viz4 the extending of  the        
conception of sexuality and the         

establishing of narcissism4 ,these      
innovations were direct translations of 
observation into theory1  subject to no 
greater sources of error than is        
inevitable in anything  of the kind4    
,the assertion of the regressive        
character of instinct  rests also1 it is
 true1 on observed material1 namely on  
the facts of  the repetition-compulsion4
 ,but perhaps ,i have over-estimated    
their  significance4 ,at all events     
there is no way of working out this idea
  except by combining facts with pure   
imagination many times in  succession1  
and thereby departing far from          
observation4 ,we know that  the final   
result becomes the more untrustworthy   
the oftener one does  this in the course
 of building up a theory1 but the       
precise degree of  uncertainty is not   
ascertainable4 ,one may thereby have    
made a  brilliant discovery or one may  
have gone ignominiously astray4 ,in such
  work ,i trust little to so-called     
intuition3 what ,i have seen of it      

seems to me to be the result of a       
certain impartiality of the             
intellect--only that people             
unfortunately are seldom impartial where
  they are concerned with the ultimate  
things1 the great problems of  science  
and of life4 ,my belief is that there   
everyone is under the  sway of          
preferences deeply rooted within1 into  
the hands of which he  unwittingly plays
 as he pursues his speculation4 ,where  
there are such  good grounds for        
distrust1 only a tepid feeling of       
indulgence is  possible towards the     
results of one's own mental labours4    
,but ,i hasten  to add that such        
self-criticism does not render          
obligatory any special  tolerance of    
divergent opinions4 ,one may inexorably 
reject theories  that are contradicted  
by the very first steps in the analysis 
of  observation and yet at the same time
 be aware that those one holds  oneself 
have only a tentative validity4 ,were we
 to appraise our  speculations upon the 

life and death-instincts it would       
disturb us but  little that so many     
processes go on which are surprising and
 hard to  picture1 such as one instinct 
being expelled by others1 or turning    
from the ego to an object1 and so on4   
,this comes only from our being  obliged
 to operate with scientific terms1 i4 e4
 with the metaphorical  expressions     
peculiar to psychology 7or more         
correctly3 psychology of  the deeper    
layers74 ,otherwise we should not be    
able to describe the  corresponding     
processes at all1 nor in fact even to   
have remarked  them4 ,the shortcomings  
of our description would probably       
disappear if  for the psychological     
terms we could substitute physiological 
or  chemical ones4 ,these too only      
constitute a metaphorical language1 but 
one familiar to us for a much longer    
time and perhaps also simpler4    ,on   
the other hand we wish to make it quite 
clear that the uncertainty of  our      
speculation is enhanced in a high degree

 by the necessity of  borrowing from    
biological science4 ,biology is truly a 
realm of limitless  possibilities2 we   
have the most surprising revelations to 
expect from  it1 and cannot conjecture  
what answers it will offer in some      
decades to  the questions we have put to
 it4 ,perhaps they may be such as to    
overthrow the whole artificial structure
 of hypotheses4 ,if that is so1  someone
 may ask why does one undertake such    
work as the one set out in  this        
article1 and why should it be           
communicated to the world8 ,well1 ,i    
cannot deny that some of the analogies1 
relations and connections  therein      
traced appeared to me worthy of         
consideration4#cf                       
,,vii      ,if this attempt to reinstate
 an earlier condition really is so      
universal  a characteristic of the      
instincts1 we should not find it        
surprising that  so many processes in   
the psychic life are performed          
independently of the                    

pleasure-principle4 ,this characteristic
 would communicate itself to  every     
part-instinct and would in that case    
concern a harking back to a  definite   
point on the path of development4 ,but  
all that the  pleasure-principle has not
 yet acquired power over is not         
therefore  necessarily in opposition to 
it1 and we have not yet solved the      
problem  of determining the relation of 
the instinctive repetition processes to 
the domination of the                   
pleasure-principle4    ,we have         
recognised that one of the earliest and 
most important functions  of the psychic
 apparatus is to #8bind' the instreaming
 instinctive  excitations1 to substitute
 the #8secondary process' for the       
#8primary  process' dominating them1 and
 to transform their freely mobile       
energy-charge into a predominantly      
quiescent 7tonic7 charge4 ,during this  
transformation no attention can be paid 
to the development of #8pain'1  but the 
pleasure-principle is not thereby       

annulled4 ,on the contrary1 the         
transformation takes place in the       
service of the pleasure-principle2 the  
binding is an act of preparation1 which 
introduces and secures its  sovereignty4
    ,let us distinguish function and    
tendency more sharply than we have      
hitherto done4 ,the pleasure-principle  
is then a tendency which subserves  a   
certain function--namely1 that of       
rendering the psychic apparatus as a    
whole free from any excitation1 or to   
keep the amount of excitation  constant 
or as low as possible4 ,we cannot yet   
decide with certainty for  either of    
these conceptions1 but we note that the 
function so defined  would partake of   
the most universal tendency of all      
living matter--to  return to the peace  
of the inorganic world4 ,we all know by 
experience  that the greatest pleasure  
it is possible for us to attain1 that of
 the  sexual act1 is bound up with the  
temporary quenching of a greatly        
heightened state of excitation4 ,the    

#8binding' of instinct-excitation1      
however1 would be a preparatory         
function1 which would direct the        
excitation towards its ultimate         
adjustment in the pleasure of discharge4
    ,in the same connection1 the        
question arises whether the sensations  
of  pleasure and #8pain' can emanate as 
well from the bound as from the         
#8unbound' excitation processes4 ,it    
appears quite beyond doubt that the     
#8unbound'1 the primary1 processes give 
rise to much more intense  sensations in
 both directions than the bound ones1   
those of the  #8secondary processes'4   
,the primary processes are also the     
earlier in  point of time2 at the       
beginning of mental life there are no   
others1 and  we may conclude that if the
 pleasure-principle were not already in 
action in respect to them1 it would not 
establish itself in regard to  the later
 processes4 ,we thus arrive at the      
result which at bottom is not  a simple 
one1 that the search for pleasure       

manifests itself with far  greater      
intensity at the beginning of psychic   
life than later on1 but  less           
unrestrictedly3 it has to put up with   
repeated breaches4 ,at a  maturer age   
the dominance of the pleasure-principle 
is very much more  assured1 though this 
principle as little escapes limitations 
as all the  other instincts4 ,in any    
case1 whatever it is in the process of  
excitation that engenders the sensations
 of pleasure and #8pain' must be        
equally in existence when the secondary 
process is at work as with the  primary 
process4    ,this would seem to be the  
place to institute further studies4 ,our
  consciousness conveys to us from      
within not only the sensations of       
pleasure and #8pain'1 but also those of 
a peculiar tension1 which again  may be 
either pleasurable or painful in itself4
 ,now is it the #8bound'  and #8unbound'
 energy processes that we have to       
distinguish from each  other by the help
 of these sensations1 or is the         

sensation of tension to  be related to  
the absolute quantity1 perhaps to the   
level of the charge1  while the         
pleasure-pain series refers to the      
changes in the quantity of  charge in   
the unit of time8 ,we must also be      
struck with the fact that  the          
life-instincts have much more to do with
 our inner perception1 since  they make 
their appearance as disturbers of the   
peace1 and continually  bring along with
 them states of tension the resolution  
of which is  experienced as pleasure2   
while the death-instincts1 on the other 
hand1  seem to fulfil their function    
unostentatiously4 ,the                  
pleasure-principle  seems directly to   
subserve the death-instincts2 it keeps  
guard1 of  course1 also over the        
external stimuli1 which are regarded as 
dangers by  both kinds of instincts1 but
 in particular over the inner increases 
in  stimulation which have for their aim
 the complication of the task of        
living4 ,at this point innumerable other

 questions arise to which no  answer can
 yet be given4 ,we must be patient and  
wait for other means and  opportunities 
for investigation4 ,we must hold        
ourselves too in readiness  to abandon  
the path we have followed for a time1 if
 it should seem to  lead to no good     
result4 ,only such #8true believers' as 
expect from  science a substitute for   
the creed they have relinquished will   
take it  amiss if the investigator      
develops his views further or even      
transforms  them4    ,for the rest we   
may find consolation in the words of a  
poet for the slow  rate of progress in  
scientific knowledge3                   
,whither we cannot fly1 we must go      
limping4                                
,the ,scripture saith that limping is no
 sin4#cg                                
,,index       ,acquired instinctive     
dispositions1 #di4     ,adaptation1 #eb4
     ,death a phenomenon of1 #eh4       
,ambivalence1 hate-love1 #fi4           
,amphimixis1 #fj1 #gb4     ,anabolic    

processes1 #fc4     ,angst1 #i4         
,animalculae1 #fj1 #fa4     ,anxiety    
dreams1 #ch4     ,apprehension1 #i1 #cg1
 #ci4     ,aristophanes1 #gd4           
,barrier against stimuli1 #cc1 #cd1     
#cf-g4     ,binding1 psychical1 #cj1    
#cd-g1 #ci1 #db1 #dd1 #hj-b4            
,breuer1 ,j41 #aj1 #bg1 #cj1 #cf1 #db4  
,calkins1 #fj4     ,charge1 #cd-g1 #hj1 
#hb4     ,breuer's bound or tonic1 #db4 
,counter-1 #cd4     ,free-flowing1 #cf1 
#db1 #hj4     of object1 #fd4           
,over-1 #cg1 #ci-dj4     ,quiescent1    
#ce-f1 #hj4     ,children1 play of1 #aa1
 #af1 #dc4     ,compulsion1 #bb1 #di4   
,daemonic1 #dd4     ,destiny-1 #bd4     
,repetition-4 ,see                      
,repetition-compulsion4     to repeat1  
#dd4     ,conjugation1 #fj1 #fc1 #ga-c4 
,conscious3     ,becoming1 #bg1 #bh4    
ego1 #ai-bj4     impulses1 #c4          
psychic processes1 #cb4     ,the1 #ai4  
,consciousness1 #c1 #ag1 #ai1 #bf-i1    
#dg1 #hb4     ,origin of1 #bh1 #cj4     
,perceptual1 #bf4     ,seat of1 #bg4    

,threshold of1 #c4     ,conservative3   
instincts4 ,see under ,instincts4       
nature of living beings1 #de4           
,constancy1 principle of1 #d4           
,daemonic3     character1 #dc4          
compulsion1 #dd4     ,danger1 #g1 #i1   
#di1 #hc4     ,death1 #dg-ej1 #ed-fc1   
#ga1 #gc4     consequence of            
propagation1 #ei4     from inner causes1
 #ef1 #eh4     ,goal of4 ,see under     
,goal4     ,impulsion towards1 #gj4     
instincts4 ,see under ,instincts4       
,natural1 #ee1 #ef1 #eh1 #fa-b4     of  
higher animals1 #fa4     phenomenon of  
adaptation1 #eh4     ,destiny1 #bb4     
-compulsion1 #bd4     ,deussen1 #ge4    
,development1 #de1 #dg1 #di-ed1 #ei1    
#gb1 #hj4     ,impulse towards higher1  
#ea4     ,libido-1 #ff4     ,organic1   
#df4     ,doflein1 ,franz1 #ei4         
,dreams1 #i-aj1 #cg-i1 #da1 #dd4        
,anxiety-1 #ch4     during              
psycho-analysis1 #ch4     ,function of1 
#cg-h4     in traumatic neuroses1 #cg-h4
     -life1 #i4     of shock-patients1  

#bd4     ,punishment1 #ch4              
,wish-fulfilment tendency of1 #aj4      
,dualistic standpoint of                
psycho-analysis1 #fg4     ,dynamic1 #a1 
#ai1 #ec1 #eg1 #fb4       ,economic1 #a1
 #aa1 #af1 #da1 #ec4     ,ego1 #e1 #f1  
#ai1 #bj1 #bd1 #fd1 #ff-gj1 #ge1 #gh-i4 
,analysis of1 #fh1 #fi4     ,coherent1  
#ai4     -conflict1 #ci4     ,conscious1
 #ai1 #bj4     -feeling1 #bj4           
instinct4 ,see under ,instinct4         
,kernel of1 #ai4     ,libidinous        
components of1 #fh4     ,libido directed
 towards1 #fe-f4     ,masochistic       
tendencies of1 #aj4     ,preconscious1  
#ai1 #bj4     ,psychological1 #fe4      
,embryology1 #bi1 #de4     ,energy1 #e1 
#ca1 #cf4     ,binding of1 #cf4         
,bound1 #cj1 #hb4     charges1 #cd1 #ce4
     ,charging1 #cd4     ,free1 #cj4    
,free-flowing1 #cf1 #hj4                
,instinctive1 #fg4     ,propagation of1 
#bh4     -transformations1 #ca4         
,unbound1 #hb4     ,quiescent1 #cf1 #hj4
     ,eros1 #fd1 #fg1 #fi1 #gi4         

,excitation1 #bi1 #cc1 #cd1 #ci1 #da1   
#db1 #ha1 #hb4     ,barrier against1    
#da4     ,bound1 #ha4     ,disturbing1  
#ch4     ,external1 #cd4     from       
within1 #cb1 #cc4     ,heightened state 
of1 #ha4     ,inner1 #d4     ,instinct1 
#db1 #ha4     ,instinctive1 #hj4        
,mass of1 #cc1 #ce1 #cg4     ,quantity  
of1 #b1 #c1 #ha4     ,perceptions of1   
#bf4     processes1 #be1 #bg-cj1 #ce4   
,propagation of1 #bh4     ,sexual1 #ci4 
,traces of1 #bg1 #cj4     ,traumatic1   
#cd4     ,unbound1 #ha4                 
,experiences3     ,painful1 #f1 #ac2    
repeated as a game1 #ac1 #ae1 #dc4      
,pleasurable1 #dc4     ,primary e4 of   
satisfaction1 #ec4     ,repetition of   
identical1 #bb1 #bc4     ,revival of    
past1 #bj4     ,traumatic1 #aj4         
,fate1 #bb1 #bc1 #bd4     ,fear1 #i4    
,fechner1 ,g4 ,th41 #c1 #d4             
,feeling1 #b4     ,ego-1 #bj4           
,hostile1 #ae4     of #8pain'1 #bf1 #cc4
     of pleasure1 #bf1 #cc4             
,painful1 #bj4     ,pleasure-pain1 #d1  

#cc4     ,ferenczi1 #aj1 #eb4           
,fixation1 #bj4     ,fliess1 ,w41 #ef4  
,fright1 #i1 #cf1 #cg4     -neurosis1   
#i4     ,furcht1 #i4       ,game3       
,child's1 #ab4     ,meaning of1 #ac4    
,painful experience repeated as1 #ac1   
#ae1 #dc4     ,repetition of1 #dc4      
,genital primacy1 #fi4     ,germ cell1  
#de1 #ed1 #ef1 #fd1 #gb1 #gf4           
,narcissistic behaviour of1 #fc4        
,germ-plasm1 #eg1 #eh1 #fb4     ,goal1  
#dg1 #ec4     ,life-1 #di4     ,tendency
 towards1 #d4     of life1 #dg-i1 #ea4  
of organic striving1 #dg4     ,goette1  
#ei4     ,gomperz1 ,prof4 ,hein41 #gd4  
,hartmann1 ,max1 #ei4     ,hate1 #fh1   
#fi4     ,heredity1 #de1 #eg4           
,hering1 ,e41 #fb4     #8,hunger and    
,love'1 #fe4       ,imitation impulse1  
#af4     ,immortality1 #ej1 #ed1 #ef-fb1
 #gb4     of protozoa1 #fj4     of      
unicellular beings1 #ei4     ,impulse1  
#g1 #ad1 #bb1 #ea4     ,conscious1 #c4  
,contemned1 #ch4     ,imitation1 #af4   
,libidinous1 #fh4     of revenge1 #ad4  

,play1 #bd4     ,repressed1 #bj4        
,sadistic1 #fi4     ,stages of1 #ea4    
towards higher development1 #ea4        
towards perfection1 #eb-c4     ,inertia1
 in organic life1 #de4     ,infantile3  
influences1 #bb4     life1 #dd4         
psychic life1 #dc4     sex-life1 #ah1   
#bj4     ,inferiority complex1 #ba4     
,inheritance tendencies1 #gc4           
,inherited instinctive dispositions1    
#di4     ,instability1 conditions of1   
#c4     ,instinct1 #e1 #f1 #da1 #df1    
#dh-ec1 #fd-h1 #gj1 #gc-d1 #gg1 #gi-hj1 
#hb-c4     ,aim of1 #df4     compelling 
repetition1 #df4     ,conception of1    
#dd-e4     ,conservative1 #df1 #dh2     
c4 ego-1 #ed2       c4 organic1 #dg2    
c4 sexual1 #ej4     ,death-1 #ed-e1     
#eh-i1 #fb-c1 #fg-i1 #ga-c1 #gg1 #gi1   
#hb-c4     ,destruction-1 #gi4          
,ego-1 #ea1 #ed-e1 #fd1 #ff-h1 #gi2     
,libidinous nature of1 #gi4             
,egoistic-1 #gi4     excitations1 #db1  
#ha4     ,first1 #dg4     ,foregoing the
 satisfaction of1 #ac4     for reunion1 

#gf4     ,inborn1 #e4     ,libidinous1  
#fg-h1 #gi4     ,life-1 #ej-a1 #ed-e1   
#eg1 #fb-c1 #fg-h1 #gc1 #gg1 #gi1 #hb4  
,narcissistic1 #gi4     ,nature of1 #dd4
     ,object-1 #gi4     of              
self-assertion1 #dh4     ,part-1 #dh1   
#fi1 #gj1 #hj4     ,power-1 #ad1 #dh4   
,regressive character of1 #gf4          
,repression of1 #eb4                    
,self-preservative1 #e1 #dh1 #di1 #fd1  
#ff1 #fg1 #fh1 #gi4     ,sexual1 #di-ea1
 #ed1 #ee1 #eg1 #fc-h1 #gj1 #gb1 #gh1   
#gi2       libidinous1 #gi1             
libidinous components of1 #fi1          
origin of1 #gd4     ,theory of1 #fh1    
#gj1 #gf4     ,two kinds of1 #eg4       
,unsatisfied1 #f4     ,vital1 #fc1 #fd4 
,introversion1 #ff4                     
,investment-energy1 quiescent 7bound7   
and free-moving1 #cj4     ,see ,charge4 
,jealousy1 #ad1 #ba1 #bb4     ,jung1 ,c4
 ,g41 #bc1 #fg4       ,katabolic        
processes1 #fc4       ,libido1 #fd-g1   
#gi4     concept1 #fe1 #gj1 #gi4        
development1 #ff4     directed towards  

the ego1 #fe-f4     distribution1       
#ci-dj4     ,narcissistic1 #ff-g1 #fi1  
#gi4     ,oral stages of1 #fi4          
quantities1 #fg4     ,reservoir of1 #ff4
     theory1 #dj1 #fc1 #fd1 #fg4        
,life1 #dg-h1 #ej1 #ee1 #eh1 #fb1 #fc4  
,beginnings of1 #gi4     ,dawn of1 #ea4 
,forces tending to preserve1 #fb4       
,goal of4 ,see under ,goal4             
-instincts4 ,see under ,instincts4      
,instinctive1 #fb4     ,length of1 #ef4 
,love-1 #fi4     ,menace to1 #cf4       
process1 #ga4     ,prolongation of1 #ed1
 #eh1 #fc1 #gc4     ,properties of1 #dg4
     ,renewal of1 #eg1 #ga1 #gc4        
,rhythm in1 #ej-a4     ,stimuli         
dangerous to1 #gf4     ,lipschtz1       
,alex41 #ei1 #fj1 #ga4     ,loeb1 ,j41  
#fa4     ,love1 #ba1 #fh1 #fi4     ,low1
 ,barbara1 #ga4       ,marcinowski1 #ba4
     ,masochistic tendencies of the ego1
 #aj4     ,masochism1 #gj4     primary1 
#gj4     ,maupas1 #fj4     ,mechanical3 
concussion1 #ci4     force1 #ci4        
shock1 #h4     stimuli1 #g4     ,memory1

 #bb1 #bh4     -records1 #bg4           
-traces1 #bg-h2       repressed1 #dd4   
,metabolism1 #eh1 #fa1 #ga4             
,metapsychology1 #a1 #bf1 #ce4          
,metazoa1 #eg4     ,multicellular       
organisms1 #eg-h1 #fc1 #gf4             
,narcissism1 #fh1 #gf4                  
,narcissistic3     behaviour of germ    
cells1 #fc4     instincts1 #gi4         
libido1 #ff1 #fg1 #fi1 #gi4             
over-charging of the injured part1      
#ci-dj4     scar1 #bj4     ,neuroses1   
#h-i1 #ah1 #ci4     ,fright-1 #i4       
,shock1 #aj4     ,theory of the1 #di1   
#ej1 #fd4     ,nirvana-principle1 #ga4  
,object1 #fc-f1 #fi1 #gj1 #gd1 #gh-i4   
,annihilation of1 #fi4     ,charging of1
 #fd4     ,injury of1 #fi4              
-instinct1 #gi4     ,libidinous         
investment of1 #ff4     -love1 #fh4     
,sex-1 #fi4     ,oedipus complex1 #ah4  
,oral stage of libido1 #fi4             
,organic3     compulsion to repetition1 
#de4     development1 #dg4       ,pain1 
#ce4     ,bodily1 #cd4     #8,pain'1    

#a-c1 #e-f1 #bj1 #bb1 #bf1 #cc1 #ch1    
#hj-b4     ,avoidance of1 #a1 #ch4      
feelings1 #cc4     ,feelings            
7,empfindungen7 of1 #bf4     ,neurotic1 
#f4     ,sensations of1 #ha4            
,part-instinct1 #dh1 #fi1 #gj1 #hj4     
,perfection1 impulse towards1 #eb4      
,pfeifer1 ,s41 #aa4     ,philosophy1 #a1
 #b1 #fc1 #fe4     ,plato1 #gd-e4       
,play3     -impulse1 #bd4     of        
children1 #aa-af1 #dc4     ,motive of1  
#af4     ,pleasure1 #a-f1 #aa1 #ae1 #af1
 #bb1 #bf1 #cc1 #ch1 #eb1 #ha4          
,pleasure-pain1 #d1 #cc1 #hb4           
,pleasure-principle1 #a-g1 #ac1 #ae-af1 
#bj1 #bd-e1 #cd1 #cg-i1 #db-d1 #ga1     
#hj-c4     ,beyond the1 #af1 #bd1 #ch4  
,dominance of1 #hb4     ,frustration of1
 #d-f4     ,replaced by                 
reality-principle1 #e4     ,supremacy   
of1 #c4     ,tendencies beyond1 #af4    
,pleasure-tendency1 #d4                 
,power-instinct1 #ad4     ,preconscious1
 #ai1 #da4     ego1 #ai1 #bj4           
material1 #db4     residues1 #db4       

,pregenital organisation1 #fi4          
,primary3     experience of             
satisfaction1 #ec4     ,masochism1 #gj4 
process1 #hj1 #ha4     ,projection1 #cc4
     ,propagation1 #eg-i1 #fe1 #fi1 #gb4
     and death1 #ei4     ,death the     
consequence of1 #ei4     ,function of1  
#gi4     of energy1 #bh4     ,sexual1   
#fj1 #gb4     ,protective barrier1 #ca1 
#cg1 #da1 #gf4     ,protozoa1 #ee1      
#eh-fb1 #gj-a1 #gc1 #gf4                
,immortality of1 #fj4     ,psychic3     
apparatus1 #c1 #d1 #e1 #g1 #aa1 #bf1    
#cc1 #cd1 #ce1 #cf1 #cg1 #da1 #db1 #hj1 
#ha4     life1 #b1 #c1 #ae1 #ai1 #bd1   
#be1 #cd1 #ch1 #ga1 #hj1 #hb4           
processes1 #a1 #d1 #i1 #bf2             
conscious1 #cb1       primary1 #db1     
secondary1 #db4     systems1 #bg1 #bh1  
#cj1 #cd1 #ce1 #cf4     ,punishment     
dreams1 #ch4     ,pythagoras1 #ge4      
,rank1 #gj4     ,reaction-formation1    
#ec1 #fe4     ,reality-principle1 #e1   
#g1 #bj1 #db4     ,pleasure-principle   
replaced by1 #e4     ,regression1 #df1  

#eb1 #gj4     ,regressive character of3 
ego-instincts1 #ed4     instincts1 #gf4 
,re-incarnation1 #ge4     ,reinstatement
 of3     earlier condition1 #dd1 #df1   
#ea1 #gd1 #hj4     lifelessness1 #ed4   
,rejuvenation1 #fj1 #fc1 #ga1 #gc4      
,repetition1 #ah1 #dc1 #dd1 #df1 #dg1   
#di1 #eb1 #ee1 #gb4     ,endless r4 of  
the same1 #bc4     ,instincts           
compelling1 #df4     of identical       
experiences1 #bb-c1     processes1 #hj4 
,repetition-compulsion1 #ai1 #bj1 #bb1  
#bd1 #be1 #ch1 #ci1 #db1 #dd1 #ee1 #gb1 
#gf4     ,organic1 #de4     ,repressed3 
impulses1 #bj4     instinct1 #eb4       
material1 #ai1 #bj4     memory-traces1  
#dd4     sex-impulses1 #f4     ,the1    
#ai1 #ch4     ,repressing agency1 #fe4  
,repression1 #f1 #ah1 #ai1 #bd1 #ec4    
of instinct1 #eb4     ,reproductive     
cells1 #di1 #ej1 #eg4     ,resistance1  
#ag1 #ai1 #bj1 #bd1 #cj1 #ec4           
,retrogression1 #ea-b4     ,return to3  
lifelessness1 #dg4     the inorganic1   
#dh1 #ha4     ,rckert1 #hc4             

,sadism1 #fi1 #gj4     ,schopenhauer1   
#fc4     ,secondary process1 #dd1 #hj1  
#ha1 #hb4     ,self-preservation3       
,instinct of1 #e1 #dh1 #di1 #fd1 #ff1   
#fh1 #gi4     ,libidinous character of1 
#fg4     ,sex1 #eg1 #gc1 #gh4           
distinction1 #ea4     impulses1 #e2     
repressed1 #f4     -life1 infantile1    
#ah1 #bj4     -object1 #fi4     -quest1 
#ba4     ,sexuality1 #ea1 #fe1 #eg4     
,conception of1 #gf4     ,origin of1    
#gc4     ,shock1 #cf4     -dream1 #bd4  
,dreams of s4 patients1 #bd4            
,mechanical1 #h4     neuroses1 #aj4     
theory1 #cf4     ,simmel1 #aj4          
,spielrein1 ,sabina1 #gj4               
,stability3     ,conditions of1 #c4     
,tendency towards1 #d4     ,strcke1 ,a41
 #gj4     ,stimulation1 #hc4            
,protection against1 #cj1 #cb4          
,stimuli1 #bi-cd1 #cg1 #da1 #ej1 #eb1   
#gf1 #hc4     ,barrier against1 #cc1    
#cd1 #cf1 #cg4     ,chemical1 #ga4      
,control of1 #cg4     dangerous to life1
 #gf4     ,defence against1 #cg4        

,mechanical1 #ga4     ,protection       
against1 #ca1 #cc4     ,reception of1   
#bi1 #ca1 #cb4     ,stimulus masses1    
#ca1 #cd1 #ga4     ,sublimation1 #eb1   
#ec4     ,system3     ,bw41 #bf1 #bh1   
#bi4     ,w-,bw41 #bf1 #bg1 #cb4        
,tasso1 #bc4     ,tension1 #hb4         
,unpleasant state of1 #a4     ,chemical1
 #ga4     ,relaxation of1 #a1 #ec4      
,trauma1 #cd1 #cg1 #ci4     ,external1  
#cd4     ,fixation on1 #aj4             
,traumatic3     excitation1 #cd4        
experiences1 #aj4     impressions1 #ci4 
neurosis1 #cf1 #cg1 #ci1 #da1 #db2      
dreams in1 #cg1 #ch4     neurosis of    
peace1 #h4       ,unconscious1 #ag1 #ai1
 #bg4     charges1 #da4     mental      
process #8timeless'1 #cb4     processes1
 #bf1 #bg4     resistances1 #ai4        
,systems1 #da-b4     ,the1 #ai1 #db4    
,unicellular beings1 #eg1 #ei1 #fc4     
,immortality of1 #ei4     ,upanishads1  
#ge4       ,vesicle1 #bi1 #cj1 #ca1 #cb4
       ,war neuroses1 #h1 #i1 #aj1 #ci4 
,w-,bw41 the system1 #bf-g1 #cb4        

,weismann1 ,a41 #ef1 #eg1 #ei1 #fj1 #fb1
 #gc4     ,wish-fulfilment1 #cg1 #ch4   
tendency of dreams1 #aj2                
prehistoric past of1 #ch4     ,woodruff1
 #ei1 #fj1 #fa4       ,ziegler1 ,k41    
#ge4    -----    ,footnote #a3      op4 
cit41 p4 #ij4    ,footnote #b3      ,cp4
 ,psycho-,analysis and the ,war         
,neuroses1 by ,ferenczi1 ,abraham1      
,simmel    and ,ernest ,jones2 ,no4 #b  
of the ,international                   
,psycho-,analytical    ,library1 #aiba4 
,footnote #c3      #aiai1 ,bd4 ,v1 ,s4  
#bdc4    ,footnote #d3      ,this       
interpretation was fully established by 
a further observation4    ,one day when 
the mother had been out for some hours  
she was greeted on    her return by the 
information #8,baby o-o-o-o' which at   
first remained    unintelligible4 ,it   
soon proved that during his long lonely 
hours he    had found a method of       
bringing about his own disappearance4   
,he had    discovered his reflection in 
the long mirror which nearly reached to 

the ground and had then crouched down in
 front of it1 so that the    reflection 
was #8fort'4    ,footnote #e3      ,when
 the child was five and three-quarter   
years old his mother died4    ,now1 when
 she was really #8gone' 7o-o-o71 the boy
 showed no grief for    her4 ,a second  
child had1 it is true1 been born in the 
meantime and had    aroused his         
strongest jealousy4    ,footnote #f3    
,cp4 #8,eine ,kindheitserinnerung aus   
8,dichtung und ,wahrheit04' ,imago1     
#aiag1 ,bd4 ,v1 ,s4 #di4    ,footnote   
#g3      ,see #8,zur ,technik der       
,psychoanalyse4 ,,ii4 ,erinnern1        
,wiederholen und    ,durcharbeiten4'    
,sammlung kleiner ,schriften zur        
,neurosenlehre4 ,,iv4    ,folge1 #aiah1 
,s4 #dda4    ,footnote #h3              
,marcinowski3 #8,die erotischen ,quellen
 der ,minderwertigkeitsgefhle'1         
,zeitschrift fr ,sexualwissenschaft1    
#aiah1 ,,iv4    ,footnote #i3      ,cp4 
the pertinent observations of ,c4 ,g4   
,jung in his article #8,die             

,bedeutung des ,vaters fr das ,schicksal
 des ,einzelnen'4 ,jahrbuch fr          
psychoanalytische und                   
psychopathologische ,forschungen1 #aija1
 ,bd4 ,i4    ,footnote #aj3      ,thus  
named after the ,german words           
,wahrnehmung 7 perception7 and          
,bewutsein 7 consciousness74            
,footnote #aa3      ,here ,i follow     
throughout ,j4 ,breuer's exposition in  
the theoretical    section of the       
#8,studien ber ,hysterie'1 #ahie4       
,footnote #ab3      ,j4 ,breuer and ,s4 
,freud3 ,studien ber ,hysterie4         
,footnote #ac3      ,cp4 #8,triebe und  
,triebschicksale'1 ,sammlung kleiner    
,schriften zur    ,neurosenlehre4 ,,iv4 
,folge1 #aiah4    ,footnote #ad3        
,psycho-,analysis and the ,war          
,neuroses4 ,introduction4 ,international
    ,psycho-,analytical ,library4 ,no4  
#b1 #aiba4    ,footnote #ae3      ,cp4  
,section ,,vii1 #8,psychology of the    
,dream-,processes' in my                
#8,traumdeutung'4    ,footnote #af3     

,i have little doubt that similar       
conjectures about the nature of         
instinct have been already repeatedly   
put forward4    ,footnote #ag3          
,compare the subsequent criticism of    
this extreme view of the                
self-preservative instincts4            
,footnote #ah3      ,by a different     
route ,ferenczi has arrived at the      
possibility of this    conception4      
7#8,stages of ,development in the ,sense
 of ,reality'4 ,ch4 ,,viii    of his    
,contributions to ,psycho-,analysis1    
#aiaf47 ,he writes3 #8,by    following  
through this process of thought         
logically one is obliged to    gain     
familiarity with the idea of a tendency 
to persistence or    regression         
governing organic life also1 while the  
tendency to progress    in development1 
adaptation1 etc4 is manifested only as  
against    external stimuli4'           
,footnote #ai3      ber die ,dauer des  
,lebens1 #ahhb2 ber ,leben und ,tod1 #b4
 ,aufl41 #ahib2    ,das ,keimplasma1    

#ahib1 etc4    ,footnote #bj3      ber  
,leben und ,tod1 #b4 ,aufl41 ,s4 #bj4   
,footnote #ba3      ber die ,dauer des  
,lebens1 ,s4 #ch4    ,footnote #bb3     
ber ,leben und ,tod1 #b4 ,aufl41 ,s4    
#fg4    ,footnote #bc3      ber die     
,dauer des ,lebens1 ,s4 #cc4            
,footnote #bd3      ber ,leben und ,tod4
 ,conclusion4    ,footnote #be3         
,cp4 ,max ,hartmann3 ,tod und           
,fortpflanzung1 #aijf2 ,alex4 ,lipschtz3
 #8,warum    wir sterben'1 ,kosmosbcher1
 #aiad2 ,franz ,doflein3 ,das ,problem  
des    ,todes und der ,unsterblichkeit  
bei den ,pflanzen und ,tieren1 #aiai4   
,footnote #bf3      ,hartmann3 loc4     
cit41 ,s4 #bi4    ,footnote #bg3        
,for this and what follows see          
,lipschtz3 ,loc4 cit41 ,s4 #bf and #eb  
ff4    ,footnote #bh3      #8ber die    
anscheinende ,absichtlichkeit im        
,schicksale des ,einzelnen'4            
,groherzog ,wilhelm ,ernst ,auflage1    
,bd4 ,,iv1 ,s4 #bfh4    ,footnote #bi3  
#8,zur ,einfhrung des ,narzissmus'1     

,jahrbuch der ,psychoanalyse1 ,bd4 ,,vi1
    #aiad1 and ,sammlung kleiner        
,schriften zur ,neurosenlehre1 ,,iv4    
,folge1    #aiah4    ,footnote #cj3     
,drei ,abhandlungen zur ,sexualtheorie1 
from the ,first ,edition1 #aije1        
onwards4    ,footnote #ca3      ,see    
,sexualtheorie1 #d4 ,aufl41 #aibj1 and  
#8,triebe und ,triebschicksale' in      
,sammlung kleiner ,schriften1 ,,iv4     
,folge4    ,footnote #cb3      ,a       
considerable part of this speculation   
has been anticipated in a work    which 
is full of valuable matter and ideas but
 is unfortunately not    entirely clear 
to me3 7,sabina ,spielrein3 #8,die      
,destruktion als ,ursache    des        
,werdens'1 ,jahrbuch fr ,psychoanalyse1 
,,iv1 #aiab74 ,she designates    the    
sadistic component as #8destructive'4   
,in still another way ,a4    ,strcke    
7,inleiding by de vertaling von ,s4     
,freud1 ,de sexuele    beschavingsmoral 
etc41 #aiad7 has attempted to identify  
the libido    concept itself with the   

biological concept of an impulsion      
towards    death which is to be assumed 
on theoretical grounds 7,cp4 also ,rank3
    #8,der ,knstler'74 ,all these       
attempts1 as the one in the text1       
indicate    how much the need is felt   
for a clarification in the theory of    
instinct which we do not yet possess4   
,footnote #cc3      loc4 cit4           
,footnote #cd3      ,although ,weismann 
7,das ,keimplasma1 #ahib7 denies even   
this advantage3    #8,fertilisation in  
no way signifies a rejuvenation or      
renewing of    life1--it is in no way   
necessary for the prolongation of life2 
it is    nothing but a device for making
 possible the blending of two different 
inheritance tendencies4' ,still1 he     
considers an increase of    variability 
in living organisms to be the result of 
such blending4    ,footnote #ce3      ,i
 am indebted to ,prof4 ,heinrich        
,gomperz of ,vienna for the following   
indications as to the origin of the     
,platonic myth1 which ,i repeat         

partly in his own words3 ,i should like 
to call attention to the fact    that   
essentially the same theory is also to  
be found in the    ,upanishads4 ,the    
,brihad-,aranyaka ,upanishad #a1 #d1 #c 
7,deussen1 #fj    ,upanishads des ,veda1
 ,s4 #cic71 where the creation of the   
world from the    tman 7the self or ego7
 is described1 has the following passage
 #8,nor    did he 7the tman1 the self or
 ego7 experience any joy1 and for that  
reason no one has joy when he is alone4 
,so he longed for a partner4 ,he    was 
as big as a woman and a man together    
when they embrace4 ,he divided          
himself into two parts1 which made a    
husband and a wife4 ,this body is       
therefore one half of the self1         
according to ,yajnavalkya4 ,and for the 
same reason this empty space here       
becomes filled by the woman4'      ,the 
,brihad-,aranyaka ,upanishad is the     
oldest of all the ,upanishads1 and    no
 expert authority would date it later   
than #hjj ,b4,c4 ,in opposition to      

the prevailing opinion ,i should not    
like definitely to deny the             
possibility of ,plato having been       
dependent1 even though very             
indirectly1 on these ,indian thoughts1  
for this possibility cannot be          
absolutely put aside even for the       
doctrine of re-incarnation4 ,a          
dependence of this sort1 first conveyed 
through ,pythagoras1 would    scarcely  
detract from the significance of the    
coincidence in thought1    for ,plato   
would not have adopted any such story   
conveyed in some way    from ,oriental  
traditions1 let alone have given it such
 an important    place1 had he not      
himself felt the truth contained in it  
to be    illuminating4      ,in an      
article by ,k4 ,ziegler 7#8,menschen-   
und ,weltwerden'1 ,neue    ,fahrbcher fr
 das klassische ,altertum1 #aiac1 ,band 
,,xxxi71 which    contains a systematic 
investigation of the thought in         
question1 it is    traced back to       
,babylonian ideas4    ,footnote #cf3    

,i would here subjoin a few words to    
clarify our nomenclature1 one    which  
has undergone a certain development in  
the course of our    discussion4 ,what  
#8sexual instincts' are1 we knew through
 their    relation to the sexes and to  
the function of propagation4 ,we then   
retained this term when the findings of 
psycho-analysis compelled us    to      
regard its relation to propagation as   
less close4 ,with the    discovery of   
narcissistic libido1 and the extension  
of the libido    concept to the         
individual cells1 the sexual instinct   
became for us    transformed into the   
,eros that endeavours to impel the      
separate parts    of living matter to   
one another and to hold them together2  
what is    commonly called the sexual   
instinct appears as that part of the    
,eros    that is turned towards the     
object4 ,our speculation then supposes  
that    this ,eros is at work from the  
beginnings of life1 manifesting itself  
as the #8life-instinct' in              

contradistinction to the                
#8death-instinct'    which developed    
through the animation of the inorganic4 
,it endeavours    to solve the riddle of
 life by the hypothesis of these two    
instincts    striving with each other   
from the very beginning4 ,the           
transformation    which the concept of  
the #8ego-instincts' has undergone is   
perhaps    harder to review4 ,originally
 we applied this term to all those      
instinct-directions--not better known to
 us--which can be distinguished    from 
the sexual instincts that have the      
object as their aim1 thus    contrasting
 the ego-instincts with the sexual ones1
 the expression of    which is the      
libido4 ,later on we approached the     
analysis of the ego    and saw that a   
part also of the #8ego-instincts' is of 
a libidinous    nature1 having taken its
 own self as an object4 ,these          
narcissistic    instincts of            
self-preservation therefore had now to  
be reckoned to the    libidinous sexual 

instincts4 ,the contrast between        
egoistic and sexual    instincts was now
 converted into one between egoistic and
    object-instincts1 both libidinous in
 nature4 ,in its place1 however1        
arose a new contrast between libidinous 
7ego and object7 instincts and    others
 whose existence can be determined in   
the ego and can perhaps be    detected  
in the destruction-instincts4           
,speculation transforms this    contrast
 into that of life-instincts 7,eros7 and
 death-instincts4    ,footnote #cg3     
,rckert in the #8,makamen des ,hariri4' 
,,printed ,,in ,,vienna ,,by ,,the      
,,society ,,for ,,graphic ,,industry    
----------------------------------------
--------------------------------        
,,the ,,international                   
,,psycho-,,analytical ,,library         
,edited by ,,ernest ,,jones        ,no4 
#a4 ,,addresses ,,on                    
,,psycho-,,analysis4 ,by ,j4 ,j4        
,,putnam1 ,m4,d4 ,emeritus              
,professor of ,neurology1 ,harvard      

,university4 ,with a ,preface by        
,,sigm4 ,,freud1 ,m4,d41 ,,ll4,d4       
,no4 #b4 ,,psycho-,,analysis ,,and ,,the
 ,,war ,,neuroses4 ,by ,,drs4 ,s4       
,,ferenczi             7,budapest71     
,,karl ,,abraham 7,berlin71 ,,ernst     
,,simmel 7,berlin7 and                  
,,ernest ,,jones 7,london74             
,,introduction by ,professor ,,sigm4    
,,freud             7,vienna74          
,no4 #c ,,the ,,psycho-,,analytic       
,,study ,,of ,,the ,,family4 ,by ,j4 ,c4
 ,,fl,,gel1             ,b4,a4          
,no4 #d4 ,,beyond ,,the ,,pleasure      
,,principle4 ,by ,,sigm4 ,,freud ,m4,d41
 ,,ll4,d4             ,authorized       
,translation from the second ,german    
,edition by ,c4             ,j4 ,m4     
,,hubback4        ,no4 #e4 ,,essays ,,in
 ,,applied ,,psycho-,,analysis4 ,by     
,,ernest ,,jones ,m4,d4                 
,president of the ,international        
,psycho-,analytical ,association4       
,no4 #f4 ,,group ,,psychology ,,and     
,,the ,,analysis ,,of ,,the ,,ego4 ,by  

,,sigm4 ,,freud             ,m4,d41     
,,ll4,d4 ,authorized ,translation from  
the ,german by ,,james                  
,,strachey4                    ,,the    
,,international ,,journal ,,of          
,,psycho-,,analysis                     
,directed by ,,sigm4 ,,freud            
,official ,organ of the                 
,,international ,,psycho-,,analytical   
,,association                           
,edited by ,,ernest ,,jones             
,president of the ,association          
,with the ,assistance of                
,,douglas ,,bryan1 ,j4 ,c4 ,,fl,,gel    
7,london7            ,a4 ,a4 ,,brill1   
,h4 ,w4 ,,frink1 ,c4 ,p4 ,,oberndorf    
7,new ,york7                            
--------------------                    
,issued ,quarterly     ,subscription    
#cjs4 or #f4-- per ,volume of ,four     
,parts 7c4 #ejj pp471 the               
parts not being sold separately4        
,,the ,,international                   
,,psycho-,,analytical ,,press           
----------------------------------------

--------------------------------        
,,transcriber',s ,,notes        ,typos  
fixed2 non-standard spelling and dialect
 retained4    ,used numbers for         
footnotes1 placing them all at the end  
of the last       chapter4    ,enclosed 
italics font in underscores4