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Libido

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Libido
Domina Petric, MD

SIGMUND FREUD

ABSTRACT Sigmund Freud is considered the originator

of the modern use of the term libido2. It is
Libido can be defined, in wider meaning as
the instinct energy or force, contained in
overall life energy, and, in narrower
id, the strictly unconscious structure of the
meaning as overall sexual energy. Libido
psyche. Libido is a fundamental instinct
affects and shapes personality traits.
that is innate in all humans3.
Mental health and personality are strongly
affected by the libido. Deviations of libido Freud developed the idea of a series of
can severely affect mental health, developmental phases in which the libido
personality and sexual behavior. fixates on different erogenous zones.

First is the oral stage (exemplified by an

infant´s pleasure in nursing), followed by
INTRODUCTION
the anal stage (exemplified by a toddler´s
Libido is a person´s overall sexual drive or pleasure in controlling his or her bowel
desire for sexual activity. Libido is movements), then the phallic stage
influenced by biological, psychological, (spanning the ages of three to six years,
and social factors. Biologically, the sex wherein the infant´s libido centers upon his
hormones and associated neurotransmitters or her genitalia as the erogenous zone),
that act upon the nucleus accumbens followed by latency stage (libido is
(primarily testosterone and dopamine) dormant), and finally, the genital stage
regulate libido in humans. Libido can be (starts in puberty, in which the individual
affected by social factors, such as work develops a strong sexual interest in people
and family, internal psychological factors, outside of the family4).
such as personality and stress, medical
These libidinal drives can conflict with the
conditions, medications, lifestyle,
conventions of civilized behavior,
relationship issues and age1.
represented in the psyche by the superego.
Ego uses defense mechanisms in order to
solve the conflict. Excessive use of defense
mechanisms results in neurosis.

1
Primary goal of psychoanalysis is to bring GEORGE EMAN VAILLANT
the drives of the id into consciousness,
Psychiatrist George Eman Vaillant
allowing them to be met directly and thus
introduced a four-level classification of
reducing the patient´s reliance on ego
5
defense mechanisms7, 8.
defenses .
Level I: pathological defenses
Both Sigmund and Anna Freud studied
defense mechanisms, but Anna spent more 1. Delusional projection: delusions about
of her time and research on five main external reality, usually of a persecutory
mechanisms: nature.

1. Repression: the feeling is hidden and 2. Denial: refusal to accept external reality
forced from the consciousness to the because it is too threatening, arguing
unconscious because it is seen as socially against an anxiety-provoking stimulus by
unacceptable. stating it does not exist, resolution of
emotional conflict and reduction of anxiety
2. Regression: represents falling back into
by refusing to perceive or consciously
an early state of mental/physical
acknowledge the more unpleasant aspects
development because it is seen as less
of external reality.
demanding and safer.
3. Distortion: a gross reshaping of external
3. Projection: possessing a feeling that is
reality to meet internal needs.
perceived as socially inacceptable and
instead of facing it, the feeling or
unconscious urge is seen in the actions of
Level II: immature
other people.
1. Acting out: direct expression of an
4. Reaction formation: acting the
unconscious wish or impulse in action,
opposite way that the unconscious instructs
without conscious awareness of the
a person to behave. This acting is usually
emotion that drives the expressive
exaggerated and obsessive.
behavior.
5. Sublimation: the most acceptable of the
2. Hypochondriasis: an excessive
mechanisms, represents an expression of
preoccupation or worry about having a
anxiety in socially acceptable ways6.
serious illness.

2
3. Passive-aggressive behavior: indirect avoid dealing directly with what is
expression of hostility. frightening or threatening.

4. Projection is a primitive form of 2. Dissociation is temporary drastic

paranoia. It reduces anxiety by allowing modification of one´s personal identity or
the expression of the undesirable impulses character to avoid emotional distress. It is
or desires without becoming consciously separation or postponement of a feeling
aware of them, attributing one´s own that normally would accompany a situation
unacknowledged, unacceptable, or or thought.
unwanted thoughts and emotions to
3. Intellectualization is a form of
another. Projection includes severe
isolation, concentrating on the intellectual
prejudice and jealousy, hypervigilance to
components of a situation so as to distance
external danger and injustice collecting.
oneself from the associated anxiety-
Aim is to shift own unacceptable thoughts,
provoking emotions. It is a separation of
feelings and impulses onto someone else.
emotion from ideas, thinking about wishes
These thoughts, feelings, beliefs and
in formal, affectively bland terms and not
motivations are perceived as being
acting on them, avoiding unacceptable
possessed by the other.
emotions by focusing on the intellectual
5. Schizoid fantasy is the tendency to aspects.
retreat into fantasy in order to resolve inner
4. Reaction formation is converting
and outer conflicts.
unconscious wishes or impulses that are
perceived to be dangerous or unacceptable
into their opposites. It is behavior that is
Level III: neurotic
completely the opposite of what one really
1. Displacement is a defense mechanism wants or feels.
that shifts sexual or aggressive impulses to
5. Repression is the process of attempting
a more acceptable or less threatening
to repel desires towards pleasurable
target. It is redirecting emotion to a safer
instincts, caused by a threat of suffering if
outlet. It is a separation of emotion from its
the desire is satisfied. The desire is moved
real object and redirection of the intense
to the unconscious in the attempt to
emotion toward someone or something that
prevent it from entering consciousness.
is less offensive or threatening in order to

3
Level IV: mature CARL GUSTAV JUNG

1. Altruism is a constructive service to According to Swiss psychiatrist Carl

others that brings pleasure and personal Gustav Jung, the libido is identified as the
satisfaction. totality of psychic energy, not limited to
sexual desire. Jung defines libido as a
2. Anticipation is realistic planning for
desire or impulse which is unchecked by
future discomfort.
any kind of authority, moral or otherwise.
3. Humor is overt expression of ideas and Libido is appetite in its natural state. From
feelings (especially those that are the genetic point of view it is bodily needs
unpleasant to focus on or too terrible to like hunger, thirst, sleep, and sex, and
talk about directly) that gives pleasure to emotional states and affects, which
others. The thoughts retain a portion of constitute the essence of libido9.
their innate distress, but they are skirted
around by witticism.
DISCUSSION
4. Sublimation is transformation of
unhelpful emotions or instincts into healthy Libido can be defined, in wider meaning as
actions, behaviors, or emotions. Example: overall life energy, and, in narrower
playing a heavy contact sport can meaning as overall sexual energy. Libido
transform aggression into a game. affects and shapes personality traits.
Mental health and personality are strongly
5. Suppression is the conscious decision to
affected by the libido. Deviations of libido
delay paying attention to a thought,
can severely affect mental health,
emotion, or need in order to cope with the
personality and sexual behavior. Examples
present reality, making it possible later to
for severe deviations of libido are
access uncomfortable or distressing
numerous sexual deviations (paraphilia).
emotions whilst accepting them. It is
different from repression, in which the Prefrontal cortex (that is implicated in
feeling is hidden and forced from the planning complex cognitive behavior,
consciousness to the unconscious, and it personality expression, decision making
usually stays unconscious. and moderating social behavior) can
manage the libido. Humans can, by using
the prefrontal cortex, inhibit libido, lower
or increase its intensity, or transform the

4
 libido and redirect it toward different types REFERENCES
of behavior.
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mammalian brain system for mate choice. Philos.
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redirected, when individual decides to do
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so, into non-sexual energy, such as
2. Crowe F, Hill E, Hollingum B. Sex and Society.
creativity, creation of non-sexual
New York: Marshall Cavendish. 2010: p. 462.
relationships (like friendship) and similar.
3. Klages M. Literary Theory: The Complete
Guide. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. 2017: p.
245.

4. Sigmund F. New Introductory Lectures on

Psychoanalysis. The Penguin Freud Library.
Richards A, Dickson A (editors). 1982: p. 131.

5. Reber AS, Reber ES. Dictionary of Psychology.

New York: Penguin Reference. 2001.

6. Hock RR. Reading 30: You´re Getting Defensive

Again. Forty Studies That Changed Psychology.
Seventh edition. Upper Saddle River: Pearson
Education. 2013: pp. 233-38.

7. Cramer P. Protecting the Self. The Guilford

Press. 2006: p. 17.

8. Vaillant GE, Bond M, Vaillant CO. An

empirically validated hierarchy of defense
mechanisms. Archives of General Psychiatry
1986;73:786-794.

9. Jung CG. The Concept of Libido. Collected

Works.

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