Be able to identify the psychosexual stages and the associated focus of eachstage.
“He believed children pass through five psychosexual stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital). According to this view, unresolved conflicts at any stage can leave a person’s pleasure-seeking impulses fixated (stalled) at “”Oral (0-18 months)Pleasure centers on the mouth—sucking, biting, chewingAnal (18-36 months)Pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demands for controlPhallic (3-6 years)Pleasure zone is the genitals; coping with incestuous sexual feelingsLatency (6 years to puberty)A phase of dormant sexual feelingsGenital (puberty on)Maturation of sexual interests”
According to the psychosexual theory proposed by Sigmund Freud, human development occurs in five distinct stages during the first few years of life. Each stage is associated with a specific focus or conflict that must be successfully resolved in order to progress to the next stage.
The five psychosexual stages are:
1. Oral Stage (Birth to 18 months): During this stage, the infant’s primary focus is on oral gratification, which includes activities such as sucking, biting, and chewing. The conflict is weaning, or breaking the attachment to the mother’s breast or bottle.
2. Anal Stage (18 to 36 months): The focus during this stage is on the child learning to control their bodily functions related to excretion. The conflict is toilet training, which involves the child learning to regulate bowel and bladder movements.
3. Phallic Stage (3 to 6 years): During this stage, the focus is on the child’s developing sexual identity and the exploration of their genitals. The conflict is the Oedipus complex or the Electra complex. Here, the child becomes attracted to the opposite-sex parent and may feel jealousy and rivalry with the same-sex parent.
4. Latency Stage (6 to 12 years): During this stage, the focus is on the development of social skills, intellectual pursuits, and hobbies. The conflict is repression of the sexual impulses and desires from the previous stage.
5. Genital Stage (12 years and older): The final stage involves the development of mature sexual relationships and the ability to form intimate, loving bonds with others. The conflict is successfully integrating the sexual impulses with the rest of one’s personality.
It should be noted that Freud’s psychosexual theory has been widely criticized and at times dismissed by modern psychologists. However, the stages serve as a framework for understanding certain aspects of child development and how early experiences can impact behavior later in life.
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