The Economic Principle in Psychoanalysis: III. Motivational Principles

On the basis of previous reflections separating the economic principle from the energic model and the consequent reformulation of regulatory principles, the role of the economic principle and its relation to energic factors are explored in regard to the operation of motivational systems. Specific areas of consideration are the role of wishes in motivational systems; the relation between wishes and drive—energic factors; alternate models of motivational systems; the relation between the putative notion of psychic energy as the potential for activation of psychic structures and its differentiation from drives (libidinal, aggressive, and narcissistic); options for the application of economic principles exclusive of energic considerations; possibilities for the integration of a modified form of psychic energy in informationally dependent and determined systems; and the role of economic factors in perceptual information processing. The conclusions are drawn that informationally based systems cannot be complete without including an (nonenergic) economic principle,

and that activity and efficacy of psychic functions requires a concept of energic potential. Suggestions for the integration of informational and economic perspectives are explored. Finally, a reformulation of the economic principle in terms more appropriate to an informationally attuned metapsychology is proposed.