To say that the human mind is complex is to utter not only a truism, but also an understatement. The sheer amounts of capacities linked to the human mind are staggering. Because of this, there are such popular sayings like “it’s all in the mind” – alluding to the fact that all perceived problems are actually just that – a matter of perception. With but a slight change of perception, virtually every problem can be solved. This is a fact supported by all rags-to-riches experiences – and in almost every instance where adrenaline flowed. In short, if it can be envisioned, it can be accomplished.

However, the complex nature of the mind does also bring about some counter-intuitive dimensions. One of these is the death drive. First described by Sigmund Freud, the death drive is a drive towards death, destruction or just deterioration. It is counter-intuitive since a basic premise of human nature is that we all seek pleasure and comfort. Death or destruction lie at the polar-opposites of pleasure and comfort. Therefore, they shouldn’t occur naturally. At the very least, nobody should actively seek death or destruction, unless the mental state is unbalanced. Yet humans break this intuitive rule regularly.

The death drive has especially been seen in world-class celebrities. Public figures like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson lived their twilight years in what seemed like incredibly self-destructive lifestyles. All ended up becoming drug dependent. A casual look at their lives may lead to the assumptions that they were led to drugs by the pressures of being public figures. But is really the only reason? A deeper analysis of their lifetime attitudes shows that these superstars, despite their worldly success, had an almost overbearing drive to destroy their lives. All received many medical warnings about their drug habits. Marilyn Monroe actually became suicidal in her final years.

There is a close correlation between the death drive and other counter-intuitive facets of human nature. For example, sado-masochism essentially defies all platforms of the pleasure principle. Some forms of depression, especially those emanating from self pity, also show a relation to the death drive. For all of these phenomena, there is no naturalistic explanation that is comprehensively satisfactory. At least, none has been formulated so far. Does this mean that the mind has facets beyond mortal reckoning? Maybe not. But suffice it to say that presently, our minds aren’t as empirical, or rational, as we may like to believe.