In psychology, libido (; ) is psychic drive or energy, usually conceived of as sexual in nature, but sometimes conceived of as including other forms of desire. The term libido was originally developed by Sigmund Freud, the pioneering originator of psychoanalysis. With direct reference to Plato's Eros, the term initially referred only to specific sexual desire, later expanded to the concept of a universal psychic energy that drives all instincts and whose great reservoir is the id.Sigmund Freud, The Ego and the Id, On Metapsychology (Penguin Freud Library 11) p. 369. The libido partly according to its synthesising, partly to its analytical aspect called life- and death-drive - thus becomes the source of all natural forms of expression: the behaviour of sexuality as well as striving for social commitment (maternal love instinct etc.), skin pleasure, food, knowledge and victory in the areas of species- and self-preservation.
iN pSYchOlOGy, LiBido (; ) is psYchic dRiVe or eNErgy, uSUallY COncEiveD of As SexUal in nATure, but sometImes COncEived of As incLUDING OtHeR forMs oF desire. thE Term lIBIdo waS originAlLY devELoped by sigmund freUD, tHe piOneERinG orIginatoR Of PsycHOAnalySis. wiTh dIRECt rEference to plATo'S erOs, the tERm initiallY REfeRrEd OnLy to spEcific SEXUAl DEsIrE, Later ExpaNdEd TO tHE cOnCePt of A UnIvERsAl psYChic enERgY thaT DRIves all instincTs AnD whosE GrEaT ReserVoiR is tHE id.Sigmund FreuD, the ego and tHe id, on metapsYcHology (PengUIN FReUD librARY 11) p. 369. tHe libido partly aCcorDing To iTs SYnTHEsisiNg, pARtLy To iTs ANaLYtICaL aSPect called lIFe- and deaTH-drive - thuS BEcOmeS the sourCe oF ALl NaturAL forMS Of ExpresSioN: tHe bEHaViour of sexualItY AS WeLl as StRiVing for SOCial coMMitmEnt (MaternaL love insTINcT eTc.), SkIn pleasuRe, FoOd, knowlEDGe And viCtory in the Areas oF specieS- anD seLf-preserVAtiON.