The Psychosexual Stages of Development Sigmund Freud The Psychosexual Stages of Development

Oral Stage (birth-12/18 months) Infants derive most of their sensual pleasure from their mouth, lips and tongue. Depend completely on others to satisfy their needs. Infants/small children relieve sexual tension through their mouth, and feel frustrated when they cannot do so (around 8 months chewing and biting are pleasurable) Difficulty: Over stimulated= overly optimistic and extremely dependent on other people to meet their needs. Under stimulated= pessimistic and respond with hostility when frustrated later in life.

Anal Stage (roughly 18 months to 3.5 years) Primary sexual pleasure shifts from mouth to anus. Derive pleasure from holding in and excreting feces, toilet training takes place. Difficulty: Rigid toilet training: throw temper tantrums and later in life will be messy and destructive. Retaining Feces: even to the point of constipation = likely to be obstinate, stingy, overly precise and excessively orderly.

Phallic Stage (age 3-5) Children discover their genitals and masturbation Attracted to opposite sex parent Jealous of same sex parent Oedipus complex (boys) Electra complex (girls) Difficultly: Never resolve complex, flirtatiousness, vanity, promiscuity, pride, chastity

Latency Period (ages 5-13) A period in which the child appears to have no interest in the other sex “Cooties Stage”

Genital Stage (puberty onward) Sexual impulses reawakened!! Lovemaking provides satisfaction Very male-centered phallic view of personality development = penis envy