Drive renunciation

Drive renunciation means the renunciation of the living out of certain drives , especially the aggressive drives and the sexual drive , or the realization of these needs. In cultural anthropology , the renunciation of instincts is an important concept. The renunciation of instincts is considered a feature of civilization and one of the basic requirements for the existence of human societies. Only by renouncing the direct exercise of instincts, such as B. the instinct for violence, human interaction is possible without aggression. Self-control or self-discipline is a prerequisite for the renunciation of instincts . Criminals who act because of a lack of or nonexistent drive control or a corresponding psychological defect are referred to as drive offenders .

Reasons for giving up urges

There can be various reasons for giving up urges. Voluntary renunciation of instincts for psychological and personal reasons, such as renouncing the exercise of the instinct to violence towards other people or the renunciation of the unlimited exercise of the sex drive in a relationship or marriage, is exercised by most people. In most cases, goals and inner drives that go beyond the pure instinctual behavior play a role.

Moral and ethical reasons also often play a role. The renunciation of the exercise of instincts, especially the instinct to use violence, is often the prerequisite for the implementation of ethical ideas.

Religion and the resulting moral values ​​can also be an important trigger for the renunciation of instincts. The renunciation of instincts is seen as a virtue and practiced in most religions. Examples are celibacy , monasticism - with the renunciation of the sex drive and an obligation to non-violence - as well as ascetics who z. B. traditionally enjoy great respect in Hindu society. The Islamic month of fasting Ramadan is also a religious example of the renunciation of instincts.

The renunciation of instincts can also be socially conditioned or forced. The compulsive and involuntary suppression of natural drives can lead to psychological problems, which was listed as one of the main reasons for neuroses , especially in the psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud .

Drive renunciation can also occur in an individual drive economy . Here it is speculated that moments of happiness (drive removal) will be increased through economical enjoyment or, to put it the other way round, not to wear them out.

See also

• abstinence
• chastity
• Satyagraha
• Social philosophy
• civilization
• celibacy

literature

• Sigmund Freud : The Uneasiness in Culture . In: Study edition Volume IX, S. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main
• Kurt Schneider : Clinical Psychopathology.
• Jutta Heckhausen and Heinz Heckhausen: Motivation and Action. (Springer textbook)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Detlef Weinich: Institutions and affect control as "constraints" of social change. Norbert Elias (1897–1990) and the theory of civilization in the light of biological-systems-theoretical evolutionary concepts. In: Würzburger medical history reports, 24, 2005, pp. 434–473, here: p. 464 ff.