The Pleasure Principle, the Constancy Principle, and the Primary Autonomous Ego

The constancy principle states that the psychic apparatus strives to avoid excitation of all sorts, whether from within or without the organism. Since certain observations at all stages of psychic development seemed to indicate a seeking for certain modes of stimulation of various external sense organs, with no apparent evidence of concomitant discharge, a re-examination of the principle was undertaken. Schneirla's biological discovery of a universal tendency in all animals to approach as well as to withdraw from stimuli was considered for its relevance to the problem, as was the existence and functioning early in life of a primary autonomous ego, operating with its own energies. Reasons were adduced for a revision of the principle to include a seeking of pleasure, pleasure being equated in energic terms with certain modes of external excitation. Thus, while Freud, confronted by the phenomenon of pleasurable excitation, admitted total defeat or sought to salvage the theory by invoking ad hoc alternation in rate or rhythm of energic changes, and while Schur attempts—unsuccessfully, in my opinion—to solve the problem by summarily banishing feelings from consideration, the present thesis takes the view that feelings and energy level can be correlated, but not simplistically, when simple, elemental internal or external stimulation is involved. A rise in instinctual drive tension can be equated with unpleasure and a diminution with satisfaction; but external stimulation results in either pleasure or unpleasure, depending on the modality involved.

It is suggested (i) that since the psychic apparatus seeks excitation as well as discharge, the constancy principle, which allows only for the latter, should be abandoned; (ii) that if an energic principle is retained, it should be one that allows for both processes; (iii) that the pleasure principle, originally formulated by Freud as the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of unpleasure, should retain this meaning and not be expressed in energic terms.