NCE Purple Book Practice Test

Freud's theory speaks of Eros and Thanatos. A client who threatens a self-destructive act is being ruled primarily by

Thanatos Eros Reality Superego

Correct Answer:

Thanatos

Explanation:

Freud proposed two basic drives: Eros, the life instinct that fuels self-preservation and growth, and Thanatos, the death instinct that pushes toward self-destruction and a return to inanimate states. When a client threatens a self-destructive act, the dominant force at play is Thanatos—the impulse driving toward ending tension through self-harm. Eros would push toward preserving life and seeking safer, constructive actions, while the reality and ego mechanisms work to manage impulses, and the superego imposes moral constraints. But the immediate power behind a self-destructive threat is the death instinct, not the life instinct or regulators.

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