An Explanatory Note to the Chart

The purpose of this diagram is to present in a schematic form the essential contents as outlined in the paper “The Psychonomic Principle in Human Behavior.” The arrow in the center represents the instinctual drive, from its origin on the left side to the goal it has to reach on the right side. The origin of the instinct, as far as we know, is probably not in any particular organ but from within the organism as a whole.

The instincts are tentatively divided into three groups; the ego, the sex, and the group, and as they advance they become intertwined and fused into one, emphasizing the thesis in this presentation, namely that one instinct is not more important than the other or can be considered to the exclusion of others, and that their working have to be viewed as a whole, as a synthetic unit. Where they come into opposition with each other, as they often do, they create a conflict which is resolved in favor of one instinct as against the other which is repressed. Conflicts are represented on both sides of the instinctual drives showing their ubiquity.

The arrow in the middle indicates that the tendency of the instinct to press for immediate release expressed as impulse and impetus; and as long as the instinct is not released, the organism remains in a state of tension which is pressing for discharge, if the organism is to achieve the desired equilibrium; this being expressed emotionally by an all pervading feeling of insecurity.

It is natural for the instinct to be aggressive; to achieve its goal, release its tension and gain security, it must do so by overcoming the natural forces of resistance of time and space. There is therefore naturally and universally aggression associated with instinct. This is primarily aggression.

In human life however the working out of instincts meets additionally with opposing forces which are subsumed under the heading of frustration and resistance. Such frustrations create additional tensions, additional feelings of insecurity, and the