According to Freud, we all have an instinctive desire to destroy ourselves. This aggressive instinct, which he called___________ , is then directed at others as a defensive reaction by the ego.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Freud believed that humans have both a life instinct (Eros) and a death instinct (thanatos), and that the latter is responsible for the aggressive and destructive impulses that can be directed at oneself or others. The ego may use these aggressive impulses as a defense mechanism against perceived threats.

According to Freud, We All Have an Instinctive Desire to Destroy