Topic #3: Freud's Psychosexual Development

"Fixation at the phallic stage develops a phallic character, who is reckless, resolute, self-assured, and narcissistic--excessively vain and proud. The failure to resolve the conflict can also cause a person to be afraid or incapable of close love."

According to Freud, the development of our personality is effected by a fixation on a particular erogenous zone during growth. There are five different stages that focus on one singular part of the body at a time. During each phase, the body becomes more sensitive in one particular location. The first stage is the oral phase, which begins at birth and lasts till about the age of two. In this stage, infants focus on the mouth as the erogenous zone because it is where they receive nourishment, such as from nursing. If the mother does not deliver on demand or ends nursing at an early age, the child can develop feelings of pessimism, envy, and suspicion. If the mother does deliver on demand, then the child may develop gullibility, an admiration of others, and optimism. The next stage is known as the anal stage, lasting from approximately two till three. This is the normal time that parents begin to potty train their children and the ego is also developing, giving the child a stronger sense of self. Since the child is being told when to go and how to go, a conflict within the id and the ego ignites. The child will either defy his parents and go when he pleases or withhold expulsion of the feces. This results in an anal expulsive character which is messy, careless, disorganized, and defiant. The other extreme is an anal retentive character, which is clean, organized, stingy, obstinate, and passive-aggressive. The third stage moves focus to the phallus. Interest arises in one's own genitals and the genitals of others. Since development is not complete, this does not manifest in a sexual nature. Howver, this is the stage where children must deal with the Oedipus complex for boys and the Electra complex for girls. After that, a period of latency arises where sexual endeavors are ignored and energy is poured into asexual activities. This lasts about six years until puberty strikes and the interest again shifts to the genitals. The less struggle the child had during the psychosexual development, the more chance the child has of building a healthy relationship with another person.

http://www.victorianweb.org/science/freud/develop.html
David B. Stevenson, 1996 Brown University
"Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development"