The pleasure principle is a central concept in Psychanalyse, elaborate very early by Sigmund Freud, that is to say in 1900.

Neurons and pleasure

Freud is initially Neurologue and, of its time, the principle of the Neuron which transmits, in order to find an at-rest state, its activation with the neurons to which it is connected is known. The neuron tends to lose its excitation.

This neuronal principle, as of before the birth of the psychoanalysis, will be associated with the research of the Plaisir.

Nevertheless, Freud gives up this cerebral model to be interested in the psychic Appareil, melting a Métapsychologie. In the Interpretation of the dreams , he considers a tendency of the human being to flee the Pulsion, psychic energy, or to want to discharge some.

Pleasure, reality and compulsion

The Interprétation of the dreams will be the moment to oppose the pleasure principle to the Principle of reality, caractéristant the Conscience (see: First topics), allowing the discharge to be deferred.

In 1920, Freud will create a Death instinct, will work out a Seconde topics and the pleasure principle will be seen altered.