Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development

1. Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development • Each stage represents a source of unconscious conflict between the id and the parents who put restrictions on the gratification of instinctual drives and unconscious desires. The parents and society help create the superego, which battles the id for influence over the ego. • Fixation, getting stuck in a stage, can occur from either over-gratification or under-gratification of the id’s desires.

2. Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development • Mouth • Breast feeding, eating, chewing & biting • “Oral fixation” • Overeating, smoking, talkative, overly quiet, overly demanding, argumentative

3. Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development • Anus • Toilet training • Anal retentive – neat, stingy, rigid • Anal expulsive – messy & disorganized

4. Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development • Going through life trying to prove manhood • Searching for mother-figure in relationships • Gender identity difficulties • Sexual difficulties • Women feeling inferior • Oedipus Complex: Competition against father for mother’s affection; fear of castration (castration anxiety) results in identification with father • Electra complex – female version • Penis envy – feeling of loss that generates hostility toward mother • Genitals

5. Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development • Repression of sexual feelings • Focus on social & intellectual skills • Same sex friendship

6. Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development • Seeking intimate relationships