libido


libido

Physiological and emotional energy associated with the sex drive. The concept was originated by Sigmund Freud, who saw the libido as linked not only with sexual desire but with all constructive human activity. He believed that psychiatric illnesses were the result of misdirecting or suppressing the libido. Carl Gustav Jung used the term more broadly to encompass all life processes in all species.

This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on libido, visit Britannica.com.

Seen & Heard

What made you look up libido? Please tell us what you were reading, watching or discussing that led you here.

Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Join Us on FB & Twitter

Get the Word of the Day and More

Facebook | Twitter

Get Our Free Apps

Voice Search, Favorites,
Word of the Day, and More

iPhone | iPad | Android | More