death instinct (redirected from death instincts)

death instinct

n. Psychiatry

1. A primitive impulse for destruction, decay, and death, postulated by Sigmund Freud as coexisting with and opposing the life instinct. Also called Thanatos.

2. Death wish.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

death instinct - (psychoanalysis) an unconscious urge to die death wish, Thanatos depth psychology, psychoanalysis, analysis - a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud; "his physician recommended psychoanalysis" impulse, urge - an instinctive motive; "profound religious impulses"