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Lesson 16: Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory
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Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) was an Austrian neurologist who is best known as the founder of psychoanalysis. This groundbreaking and often debated school of thought changed the way we understand the human mind and behavior. Many people call him the "father of modern psychology." His key contributions to the field include concepts like the Unconscious Mind, Psychoanalytic Therapy, the Structure of Personality, Psychosexual Development, and Defense Mechanisms. There's no denying the profound influence Freud has had on psychology, psychiatry, therapy, and even Western culture as a whole.
FREUD’S STAGES OF PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
- Oral stage (birth to 18 months)
- Anal stage (18 months to 3 years)
- Phallic Stage (ages 3 to 6 years)
- Latency stage (age 6 to puberty)
- Genital stage (puberty onwards)
Oral Stage (birth to 18 months)
- Erogenous zone (pleasure area) – a specific area that becomes the focus of pleasure or needs. These may be the arms, mouth, and the genitals.
- Erogenous zone is the mouth.
- Too much or too little satisfaction can lead to Oral Fixation or Oral Personality as shown in increased focus on oral activities.
- Oral receptive - a type of personality which has a stronger tendency to smoke, drink alcohol, overeat.
- Oral aggressive - a tendency to bite his or her nails or use curse words or even gossip.
The oral stage is the first stage of development, and its erogenous zone the main source of pleasure and need is the mouth. During this period, infants satisfy their needs through activities such as sucking, biting, and chewing. If a child receives either too much or too little gratification at this stage, it may lead to what Freud called an oral fixation or oral personality, where the individual continues to focus on oral activities later in life. Two common patterns may emerge: the oral receptive personality, which shows a stronger tendency toward behaviors like smoking, drinking, or overeating, and the oral aggressive personality, which may be expressed through nail‑biting, frequent use of harsh language, or gossiping.
Anal Stage (18 months to 3 years)
- The child’s focus of pleasure in this stage is the anus.
- The child finds satisfaction in eliminating and retaining feces.
- The child needs to work on toilet training.
- Anal retentive – an obsession with cleanliness, perfection, and control.
- Anal expulsive – the person becomes messy and disorganized.
The anal stage, which occurs between 18 months and 3 years of age, is the second stage in Freud’s psychosexual theory of development. At this point, the child’s main source of pleasure and focus is the anus, as satisfaction is derived from the act of eliminating and retaining feces. This stage is closely tied to toilet training, which becomes the central developmental task. How parents handle toilet training can influence personality traits later in life. If training is too strict or harsh, the child may develop an anal‑retentive personality, characterized by excessive orderliness, cleanliness, perfectionism, and a need for control. On the other hand, if training is too lenient, the child may develop an anal‑expulsive personality, often associated with messiness, disorganization, and sometimes rebelliousness.
Phallic Stage (ages 3–6)
- The pleasure or erogenous zone is the genitals.
- During preschool age, children become interested in what makes boys and girls different.
- Preschoolers will sometimes be seen fondling their genitals.
- Oedipus Complex – boys develop unconscious sexual desire for their mother. Boys see their father as a rival for their mother’s affection.
- Electra Complex – girls may develop an unconscious sexual attraction towards their father.
- According to Freud, out of fear of castration and due to strong competition of their father, boys eventually decide to identify with them rather than fight them.
- By identifying with their father, the boys develop masculine characteristics and identify themselves as males and repress their sexual feelings towards their mother.
- A fixation at this stage could result in sexual deviance and weak or confused sexual identity.
The phallic stage, which occurs between ages 3 and 6, is the third stage in Freud’s psychosexual theory. At this point, the child’s main source of pleasure is focused on the genitals, and preschoolers begin to notice the physical differences between boys and girls. Freud proposed that during this stage, children may unconsciously develop strong attachments to the opposite‑sex parent. For boys, this is known as the Oedipus Complex, where they feel desire for their mother and view their father as a rival. For girls, the Electra Complex describes a similar attraction toward the father. Freud suggested that boys eventually resolve this conflict out of fear of punishment (castration anxiety) and by identifying with their father instead of competing with him. Through this identification, boys adopt masculine traits, strengthen their male identity, and repress their sexual feelings toward their mother.
Latency Stage (age 6 to puberty)
- It is during this stage that sexual urges remain repressed.
- The children’s focus is the acquisition of physical and academic skills.
- Boys relate more with boys and girls with girls during this stage.
The latency stage, which lasts from about age 6 until puberty, is the fourth stage in Freud’s psychosexual theory. During this period, sexual urges are largely repressed, and children shift their focus toward developing physical, intellectual, and social skills. Energy that was previously directed toward earlier psychosexual conflicts is now channeled into learning, schoolwork, hobbies, and building friendships. Peer relationships become especially important, with boys typically spending more time with boys and girls with girls, reinforcing gender identity and social roles. This stage is crucial for acquiring academic abilities, practicing teamwork, and developing values, all of which prepare the child for the challenges of adolescence.
Genital Stage (puberty onwards)
- Begins at the start of puberty when sexual urges are again awakened.
- Adolescents shift their sexual urges towards the opposite sex with pleasures centered on the genitals.
The genital stage, which begins at puberty and continues into adulthood, is the final stage in Freud’s psychosexual theory. At this point, sexual urges reawaken after the period of latency, and the focus of pleasure once again centers on the genitals. Unlike the earlier phallic stage, however, the sexual energy is now directed outward, toward forming mature relationships with others. Adolescents begin to shift their sexual interests toward the opposite sex, and this stage emphasizes the development of healthy intimacy, love, and responsibility. Successful resolution of this stage leads to the ability to form balanced, long‑term relationships, while unresolved conflicts from earlier stages may result in difficulties with intimacy or sexual identity.
Sigmund Freud's Psychosexual Development Quiz: click here
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