Freud's Psychosexual Development: Stages, Fixations, and Erogenous Zones, Slides of Psychology

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Freud's Stages of Psychosexual

Development

libido

• Freud believed that personality developed

through a series of childhood stages in which

the pleasure-seeking energies of

the id become focused on certain erogenous

areas.

• This psychosexual energy, or libido, was

described as the driving force behind

behavior.

fixation

• If these psychosexual stages are completed

successfully, a healthy personality is the result.

• If certain issues are not resolved at the appropriate

stage, fixations can occur.

• A fixation is a persistent focus on an earlier

psychosexual stage.

• Until this conflict is resolved, the individual will

remain "stuck" in this stage.

• For example, a person who is fixated at the oral stage

may be over-dependent on others and may seek oral

stimulation through smoking, drinking, or eating.

The Oral Stage Age Range: Birth to 1 Year

Erogenous Zone: Mouth

• During the oral stage, the infant's primary source of interaction occurs through the mouth, so the rooting and sucking reflex is especially important.
• The mouth is vital for eating and the infant derives pleasure from oral stimulation through gratifying activities such as tasting and sucking.
• Because the infant is entirely dependent upon caretakers (who are responsible for feeding the child), the infant also develops a sense of trust and comfort through this oral stimulation.

The Anal Stage

• Age Range: 1 to 3 years
• Erogenous Zone: Bowel and Bladder Control
• During the anal stage, Freud believed that the primary

focus of the libido was on controlling bladder and

bowel movements.

• The major conflict at this stage is toilet training- - the

child has to learn to control his or her bodily needs.

Developing this control leads to a sense of

accomplishment and independence.

• According to Freud, success at this stage is dependent

upon the way in which parents approach toilet training.

Anal….

• Parents who utilize praise and rewards for using the

toilet at the appropriate time encourage positive

outcomes and help children feel capable and

productive.

• Freud believed that positive experiences during this

stage served as the basis for people to become

competent, productive, and creative adults.

• However, not all parents provide the support and

encouragement that children need during this stage.

Some parents instead punish, ridicule or shame a child

for accidents.

The Phallic Stage

• Age Range: 3 to 6 Years
• Erogenous Zone: Genitals
• During the phallic stage, the primary focus of the libido is on the genitals.
• At this age, children also begin to discover the differences between males and females.
• Freud also believed that boys begin to view their fathers as a rival for the mother’s affections. The Oedipus complex describes these feelings of wanting to possess the mother and the desire to replace the father.
• However, the child also fears that he will be punished by the father for these feelings, a fear Freud termed castration anxiety****.

Phallic……

• The term Electra complex has been used to described a similar set of feelings experienced by young girls.
• Freud, however, believed that girls instead experience penis envy.
• Eventually, the child begins to identify with the same-sex parent as a means of vicariously possessing the other parent.
• For girls, however, Freud believed that penis envy was never fully resolved and that all women remain somewhat fixated on this stage.
• Psychologists such as Karen Horney disputed this theory, calling it both inaccurate and demeaning to women.
• Instead, Horney proposed that men experience feelings of inferiority because they cannot give birth to children, a concept she referred to as womb envy****.

The Genital Stage

• Age Range: Puberty to Death
• Erogenous Zone: Maturing Sexual Interests
• During the final stage of psychosexual development, the individual develops a strong sexual interest in the opposite sex.
• This stage begins during puberty but last throughout the rest of a person's life.
• Where in earlier stages the focus was solely on individual needs, interest in the welfare of others grows during this stage.
• If the other stages have been completed successfully, the individual should now be well-balanced, warm, and caring.