Beyond the Pleasure Principle

Shifting focus from sexual drives, Freud explores the death drive, or Thanatos, as a significant force in human psychology, suggesting it urges a return to an earlier state. While he maintains that the pleasure principle dominates, he highlights the impact of unpleasant experiences on behavior, leading to compulsive actions. Additionally, he revisits his theory of dreams as wish fulfillment, particularly in the context of reliving trauma. This work, first published in 1920, is considered one of Freud's most controversial and influential contributions to psychology.