What does the repeated outbreak of war led to psychiatrist Sigmund Freud to conclude?
aggression is an instinctive part of human nature that stems from humanity’s genetic psychological programming
The repeated outbreak of war led Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, to conclude that humans have an innate destructive instinct that fuels conflicts and wars. In his book “Civilization and Its Discontents,” Freud analyzed the human condition and argued that aggression is a fundamental human drive, which causes us to be in a permanent state of discontent.
According to Freud, civilization has created a set of laws, norms, and cultural values that suppress the individual’s instinctual desires, particularly aggression. However, these cultural restraints are not enough to prevent wars and conflicts from arising, as they do not completely eliminate the individual’s instinctual drive.
Freud suggests that the only way to prevent wars and conflicts is by creating a culture that focuses on the fulfillment of the individual’s needs and desires. He advocates for a society that fosters individual freedom, creativity, and expression, and allows the individual to channel their innate drive towards productive and constructive activities.
Overall, Freud’s analysis of the human condition and his insights into the destructive instincts that fuel wars and conflicts have contributed to our understanding of the causes of human violence and the potential solutions to prevent it.
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