Concept
Reality principle
The principle that, in Freud's account, comes to modify the pleasure principle as the mental apparatus learns that hallucinated satisfaction does not bring real relief. It requires the apparatus to form a picture of the real circumstances in the external world and to tolerate delay and detours on the way to satisfaction, through attention, memory, judgement and thinking. Freud set it out in 'Formulierungen über die zwei Prinzipien des psychischen Geschehens' (1911), where it governs the secondary process; it does not abolish the pleasure principle but safeguards it.
Read more- Introduced by
- Sigmund Freud
- Key works
- 2
- Related
- Pleasure principle
introduced by
- Sigmund Freud 1911 In 'Formulations on the Two Principles of Mental Functioning' Freud introduces the reality principle: when hallucinated satisfaction fails, the apparatus must form a conception of the real circumstances in the outside world and seek a real change in them, putting up with delay and unpleasure.
derives from
- Pleasure principle 1911 Freud presents the reality principle not as a rival to the pleasure principle but as its modification: it gives up a momentary pleasure, uncertain in its results, only to secure a later and surer one. Beyond the Pleasure Principle repeats that the reality principle replaces the pleasure principle under the ego's drives of self-preservation without abandoning its aim.