Everyday, we direct our inner strength to a specific medium, focusing our emotions on it. If you don't understand very well what this means, we invite you to read this text. Back then Freud himself outlined something much deeper than a simple observation on the subject and you will learn about it here. Today we will better understand the meaning of cathexis and how it is structured in our psyche.

What is cathexis?

Cathexis is shown as a psychic force that is directed to a certain object by means of mental representation In this, we concentrate our mental energy, focusing on a particular image, entity or object. This can come from real and concrete objects to idealized ones, such as fantasies or even symbols. If you've ever heard someone talk about "focusing all your energy on something", that's what the phrase is talking about.

This force originates in the libido, in order to focus this essence towards a certain linear end. As you well know, this energy ends up serving as an impulse for the manifestation of movements that are visible to the external environment. For example, libido collaborates in artistic and cultural demonstration as something that moves your creativity and condensation of this visually.

When we talk about cathexis, this is directed to a specific point, so as to uniquely fix a representation here. As an example, consider the anger we feel toward someone. The truth is that we cathexis it. Thus, we end up causing an energetic and psychic overload to arise.

The classification of the drives

Turning now to the work on cathexis, Freud's theory of instinct came about from clinical observations along the way It was said that the sexual impulse ended up being centered in relation to the disease of the disease. There was a great preoccupation on his part about the sexual impulse, something that was contrary to the time when the work was conceived.

Interestingly, Freud started this work on the instinct of self-preservation around the 1890's. However, this was not elaborated on for the next 20 years until it was taken up again. Psychoanalytic theory was growing, but his idea regarding instincts moved away and became more abstract.

Over three decades the Freudian hypotheses regarding classification have changed and developed, so much so that in the last construction he pointed out the existence of two impulses, the aggressive and the sexual. The aggressive one ends up generating a destructive essence while the sexual one feeds the erotic content in mental actions.

Observational coexistence and inaccessibility

The idea of cathexis indicates that the manifestations of pulsional nature go through both classifications. When we can observe them, whether pathological or not, they go through sexual and aggressive pulses. Although they can be seen merged, this does not indicate that there is equality in their quantitative distribution .

This is why a callous act of cruelty that obeys the impulse of aggression is unconsciously accommodated in pleasure. While it may cause some harm, it ends up being gratifying, even if the person doesn't realize it. Going further, there is no act of pure love, even a simple one, that doesn't carry a charge of aggression.

With this, the drives are not observable in human behavior in such a pure or unmixed way. They are assumptions, abstract hypotheses about the data in relation to existence. Through this there is the idea that we can understand them more so that we can simplify an explanation about them.

Sexual and aggressive drive

As opened lines above, cathexis ends up going in different paths that intersect at some level. Still, carry their own nature, something too sensitive to be seen in its existential purity and to be About both, we have:

Sexual drive

It is shown as a grouping of actions and behaviors that are aimed at the sexual act. It is born with us naturally, being linked to the existence of the libido. In modern psychology studies it is indicated that we can use this mechanism to "learn".

Aggressive drive

All of us also have an aggressive impulse, so that we are bent on destruction in any form. This can come from the mental projection of it, or even as far as the physical action involved in anger. The act of hurting someone or hating them inside is an example.

Division and acceptance

The psychological evidence nowadays has influenced the division about the aggressive and sexual drive within the cathexis. In the beginning, Freud tried to connect basic biological concepts to work the psychological theory of the drives. With this, he ended up proposing that these drives were changed to life and death drives.

It is clear that most analysts do not accept the conception regarding the impulse related to death. Drives relate to observable propositions, including examining what drives look like that are important to practice and theory .

Divisions

To make the localization about cathexis, psychoanalysts have used this trio of terms:

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Ego Cathexis

When the ego splits consciously while the psychic energy is connected to it, we get the origin of the talk about ego-libido or, in other words, narcissism. Others name it self-libido or ego-libido, which differentiates it from the object libido.

Catexia of fantasy

It concerns mental energy directed toward fantasies, object construction, or unconscious sources. Both this and the previous topic connect to narcissism, which is primary.

Object Cathexis

Indicates when psychic energy is connected to an object outside or far away from the subject in question Not to mention the representation of this item in the individual's mind, which is less fixed and more unstable, since it is connected with a secondary narcissism, and is as short or less lasting.

The proofs of existence

Cathexis is seen even in our infancy, beginning with the sexual impulse directed to action by desire, in the baby, for example, this influences their behavior that ends up demanding gratification As time goes by, the adult reproduces this and includes ecstasy and suffering in his perspective.

Direct observation of this and conversation is shown as proof, since the desires and behaviors are seen in children. However, a block is seen, because we are conditioned to forget and deny sexual conflicts. This is why, before Freud, it was not possible to ascertain the presence of this in the infancy of the little ones.

However, analysis in children it is possible to display the significance of sexual desires in childhood in parallel in adult analysis In 1905 Freud described his essential pillars on sexuality in Three Essays. Those who study this part need to know that each phase is not as different from each other as the schematic entry makes it seem.

Final considerations on cathexis

The concept of cathexis, in simplicity, refers to the linear channeling of energy about a specific object Although its nature is not part of our everyday informational life, we practice it all the time without noticing it, for example, when we direct our love, hate or concern towards some person.

It is interesting to note how this develops, so that it shows from its roots to its final projection. Even though their charges are opposite at some level, they still interact freely with each other. Of course, this is in different concentrations, so that one predominates, but is never really pure.

In order to understand more about the inner workings of the human mind, enroll in our online Psychoanalysis course. Through it, you can understand more about your needs and blockages thanks to developing self-knowledge. From now on, your cathexis will direct the power you need to work to the fullest extent of your potential .