“Sexual Instinct”
Freud explains, “The fact of the existence of sexual needs in human beings and animals is expressed in biology by the assumption of a ‘sexual instinct’, on the analogy of the instinct of nutrition, that is of hunger.” The sex instinct is inherent in human beings and animals. Desire for sexual intimacy, which is equivalent to hunger, is activated by the inherent instinct. The desire for sex is mollified by having intercourse. No other engagement can quench the hunger for sex apart from sex.
Inverts
Freud observes, “It comes as a great surprise therefore to learn that there are men whose sexual object is a man and not a woman, and women whose sexual object is a woman and not a man. People of this kind are described as having ‘contrary sexual feelings’, or better, as being ‘inverts’, and the fact is described as ‘inversion’."
Inverts express queer inclinations in their sexual penchants. Their preferences and sexual objects are contrary to the normal standards where men are expected to seek intimacy with women. Inverts are deviants in matters of sexuality.
Psychoneurotics
Freud expounds, “The sexual instinct of psychoneurotics exhibits all the aberrations which we have studied as variations of normal, and as manifestations of abnormal, sexual life. (a) The unconscious mental life of all neurotics (without exception) shows inverted impulses, fixation of their libido upon persons of their own sex."
Psychoneurotics' sexual impulses are inverted and they lead them seeking sexual satisfaction in individuals of their genders. According to Freud, sexual desire for a member of the same sex is a psychological matter. Freud's explanation begs the question of whether gays and lesbians have underlying psychological issues that contribute to their sexual preferences.
“Erotogenic Zones”
Freud expounds, “The part played by the erotogenic zones is immediately obvious in the case of those perversions which assign a sexual significance to the oral and anal orifices. These behave in every respect like a portion of the sexual apparatus. In hysteria these parts of the body and the neighbouring tracts of mucous membrane become the seat of new sensations and of changes in innervation."
The zones contribute to the satisfaction of sexual desires. Caressing of the zones elicits excitements and sensations which make individuals sexually fulfilled; erotogenic zones are gears which make sexual intimacy successful.
'Sexual excitement'
Freud remarks, “The mental indications consist in a peculiar feeling of tension of an extremely compelling character; and among the numerous somatic ones are first and foremost a number of changes in the genitals, which have the obvious sense of being preparations for the sexual act — the erection of the male organ and the lubrication of the vagina."
Erotic excitement, which could be triggered by external stimuli or internal factors, becomes inevitable once individuals' genitals are developed. The genitals are apparatuses which permit individuals to engage in intimacy. Mental imageries of sex contribute to the arousal of genital organs. Lubrication and erection are indicators of excitement and readiness for sexual intercourse.
Libido
Libido, a central concept in Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, represents the primary source of psychic energy linked to life instincts, notably sexual desire and motivation. It embodies the fundamental drive to seek pleasure, satisfaction, and the preservation of life, forming the core of human behavior and influencing emotional, cognitive, and social aspects. Libido's association with sexual energy entails its role in fueling sexual attraction, desire, and pleasure, with its transformation and redirection through various developmental stages being a key aspect of Freud's theory. Conflicts arising from societal norms may lead to the repression of sexual desires, contributing to psychological tensions, while dream analysis reveals libido's expression in unconscious symbolism. Contemporary psychology has seen modifications and alternatives to Freud's concept, but libido remains integral to understanding his pioneering psychoanalytic framework.
Sexual Symbols
In Freud's psychoanalytic theory, sexual symbols in dreams are a way for the unconscious mind to express repressed desires, including sexual ones. Dreams, seen as wish fulfillment, use symbolism to convey these hidden desires indirectly. Symbols in dreams can represent sexual content through objects, actions, or scenarios. Interpreting these symbols involves uncovering their concealed meanings, and shedding light on inner conflicts. Individuals may gain insight into their psyche by allowing the expression of repressed desires in dreams, although Freud's dream theory has faced criticism and alternative views in contemporary psychology.
