The objective of this article is to explore and better clarify the psychoanalytic concept of the “death drive” in the light of clinical practice and certain discoveries of contemporary neuroscience. Based on a study of classic Freudian thought about the “death drive” and affective neuroscience, including “neuropsychoanalysis” and the most recent developments, it has been possible to reinterpret certain clinical phenomena such as addiction and masochism, including that involved in neurotic symptomatic suffering. The objective is to offer an original interpretation of these clinical manifestations by forging a new and original dialogue between psychoanalysis and neuroscience, showing how the role of affectivity proves central to individual development. Trauma in primary relationships can influence individual development by inducing neurophysiological needs such that they push people to adopt addictive behavior. Emotional trauma and primary relationship problems seem to be linked to a somewhat paradoxical search for instinctual satisfaction, as in addictions or even in certain forms of masochism. The dialogue between psychoanalysis and neuroscience seems to be quite fruitful, allowing for an original understanding of clinical phenomena such as addiction. The use of affective neuroscience can therefore allow for a new understanding and a new use of the epistemologically problematic Freudian concept of the “death drive”.
Alparone et al. (Sun,) studied this question.