The death instinct is a fundamental concept of Freud, who regarded it as a pole opposite to the life instinct. The stronger the death instinct, the more defenses are developed to keep it under the control of the Ego, which is responsible for moderating its intensity, counterbalancing it, and fostering the expression of the life instinct, thereby protecting the individual from destructive actions and behaviors, both towards themselves and others, while simultaneously promoting the processes of personality adjustment to external reality.

This study discusses the death instinct itself, as well as its disguises, which are not given once and for all, but assume various clinical or psychological forms. They are expressed sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously, resulting in the Ego being sometimes aware of them and sometimes dissolving under their influence. Many examples are provided from the personal clinical work of the psychoanalyst and from the lives of historical figures. The author develops her thoughts based on the psychoanalytic theory of Melanie Klein.