The phrase "death instincts" is a term used in psychology to describe a concept introduced by Sigmund Freud, which refers to a primitive drive towards self-destruction. The term has been controversial over the years, and some psychologists prefer to use alternative terms to describe this concept. Some commonly used synonyms for the term include "death drive," "Thanatos," "negative energy," and "self-destructive tendencies." Other terms that have been suggested include "destructive impulse," "self-sabotage," and "dark impulses." While these terms may differ in their nuances, they all describe the same underlying psychological phenomenon: a primal drive towards self-destruction that operates at the unconscious level.