Final answer:
Sigmund Freud identified thanatos, the Death Drive, as a primary human drive, symbolizing our unconscious inclination towards aggression and self-destruction, which contrasts with Eros, the life drive. These drives are pivotal in Freudian psychology, explaining the tension within the human psyche and irrational behaviors, such as those witnessed during wartime.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sigmund Freud determined thanatos, or the Death Drive, to be one of our primary drives during World War I and following the death of his daughter. Freud's theories, including the concept of thanatos, are deeply rooted in our unconscious mind, which he believed houses repressed memories and desires. The Death Drive represents the human inclination towards aggression and self-destruction, which stands in stark contrast to Eros, the Pleasure Principle or the life drive, focused on survival, propagation, and pleasure. Freud theorized that these conflicting drives are part of our psychological makeup and cause internal tension.
Freud's work delves deeply into the complex interplay between these unconscious drives and our conscious lives, suggesting that while we may see ourselves as rational beings, we're significantly motivated by unconscious and irrational forces. Freud also introduced the concepts of Id, Ego, and Superego as parts of the mind's structure, with the Id being the source of our drives and instincts, the Ego the part of the mind in touch with reality, and the Superego as the internalization of societal and parental standards.
The concept of the Death Drive was a significant factor in his explanation for the horrors and irrationality of war, as Freud had witnessed during World War I and the personal tragedy of losing his daughter. It underlined his understanding of human behavior, including destructive acts and the potential for individuals and societies to act against their self-interest and survival.