Decoding the Complexities of Pathological Love and Drive Disorders

Contemporary psychological research shows that disorders of drive are not isolated diagnoses, but rather a powerful signal of disturbances across a broader spectrum of psychophysiological processes. These syndromes are often found in conjunction with affective and personality changes, which makes them especially challenging to diagnose and treat. An energetic yet balanced perception of the problem reveals that aggressive, hypersexual, masochistic, and even sadistic tendencies observed in children and adolescents do not arise on their own; instead, they are part of deeper psychic disturbances. Classical psychoanalytic approaches emphasize that deviations from the functional use of sexuality for procreation can serve as an indicator of a pathological condition requiring attention. This comprehensive view of the issue calls not only for careful diagnosis using electrophysiological and psychological methods, but also for integrative therapeutic intervention aimed at restoring overall mental balance. It is important to understand that pathological love is not an independent disease, but rather signals serious internal imbalances that require timely correction and professional support.

How can pathological love or a drive disorder be characterized from a psychological perspective?

Pathological love or a drive disorder, according to various psychological approaches, is often not seen as an isolated primary disorder but rather as a symptom emerging against a backdrop of broader psychophysiological or affective disturbances. Such pathology can manifest as a complex of symptoms, including aggressive, hypersexual, masochistic, or even sadistic tendencies, which are particularly noticeable in children and adolescents. For example, it is stated:

"In isolated cases, as a primary disorder, these conditions are practically non-existent. More often, they appear as symptoms of drive disorders occurring with other conditions – affective, organic, or personality-related – making additional diagnostics, including electrophysiological and psychological methods, crucial. In the pattern of disordered behavior in children, pathologically altered drives occupy a leading position. These drives are usually polymorphic and in most children are accompanied by heightened affective arousal. In early childhood, aggressive pathological sexual drives, tendencies toward running away and vagrancy, and kleptomania are predominant."
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Moreover, from the standpoint of classical psychoanalytic theory, pathological forms of sexual drive can be interpreted as deviations from the functional orientation of sexuality toward procreation. As Freud stated:

"Freud writes: 'The turning point in development is the subordination of all sexually private drives to the primacy of the genitals and, along with this, the subordination of sexuality to the function of procreation.' Sexual goals that do not pursue procreation are considered by Freud to be deviations, which, in their unidimensional form, lead to pathology that requires treatment."
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Thus, from a psychological perspective, pathological love or a drive disorder is seen as a complex phenomenon arising at the intersection of affective, personality, and biological factors. The altered drives are not an independent disease, but rather a component of a more general disturbance of mental state, necessitating thorough diagnostics and, if needed, comprehensive psychotherapeutic correction.