Investment is a concept in Freudian psychology that refers to mental energy invested in ideas and objects. It is related to countercathexis, which is energy suppressed by the ego. Investment plays a role in the development of desires and drives, and suppressing energy can lead to burnout. Freud’s theories on psychology continue to be debated and expanded upon by later analysts.
Investment is a component of Freudian psychology believed to be the motivation behind the development of drives and impulses. Freud conceived of investment as a form of energy invested by the mind in ideas and ideas. According to Freud, this energy was constantly being generated and used by the id and the ego. A related concept, countercathexis, refers to energies diverted and suppressed by the ego.
To understand how investment works in the Freudian model, it is helpful to know the id and the ego. The id is the most basic component of the personality, present at birth and guided by the satisfaction of basic needs; a baby exhibiting the sucking reflex, for example, is guided by the id. The ego is a component of the personality that develops over time to organize and act upon thoughts, while the superego is, in essence, the mind’s critic, exercising moral guidance.
Investment can take many forms. One of the simplest is the energy investment in hunger. The id and the ego balance each other as the ego searches for the most effective and acceptable way to satisfy the id-communicated need for food. If the id develops a desire deemed inappropriate, the ego can repress that desire, in countercathexis, where the energy resists because the ego believes it is unrealistic or unhealthy. For example, many cultures have a taboo against cannibalism and an expression of desire for human flesh from the id would be suppressed by the ego to prevent the mind from acting upon it.
The mental energy of charge is believed to play a role in the development of desires and drives. The investment of energy in objects and ideas consumes some of the energy, while the excess can be expressed in various ways. Suppressing energy can also consume large amounts of energy. People who fight desires and urges they deem inappropriate may develop burnout and have difficulty meeting their basic needs due to a decrease in mental energy.
Freud’s theories on psychology have been the subject of lively debate since their introduction in the early 20th century and will continue to be topics of discussion. Later analysts have built on Freud’s theories and expanded his thinking on topics such as investment, sometimes integrating it into their own theories and sometimes actively criticizing Freud’s models. Freud’s detailed and extensive work continues to have a profound impact on the psychology profession.
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