Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development

By Andrew James Woodson&

Samuel Robert Skovrinski

The Oral Stage

• The Oral stage is a part of an infants life, where their primary source of interaction is using their mouth.– The child receives pleasure from oral stimulation.– Children feel gratification/pleasure from things

like tasting and sucking

• This is also the stage where the infant begins to trust and feel close to the mother, as a result of the oral stimulation.

The Anal Stage

• In the anal stage, Freud believed that “the primary focus of the libido is to control bowel and bladder movements.” – The main conflict of the stage is to conquer toilet

training– It is important that children learn how to deal with

their bodily needs– Children who are able to control their bodily

functions develop a sense of independence and confidence

The Anal Stage

• Freud believed that success of this stage is dependent on how the parents of the child handle the task of toilet-training. – Parents who use praise and rewards at the

appropriate times, used to encourage the children, are more likely to success as a result.

• Freud believed that when people have a positive experience during this stage in life, they are more likely to become “competent, productive, and creative adults later in life.

The Phallic Stage

• During this stage the main focus of the libido is on the genitals– Boys in this stage derive pleasure from their

genitals

This is also the stage in life where children learn the difference between Male and Female.– This is the stage where Freud believed that boys

enter the beginning stage of the “Oedipus Complex”

– They begin to see their fathers as rivals

The Oedipus Complex

• Freud believed that all boys go through a stage in life where they get feelings of desire for their mother, and begin to feel jealousy or a rivalry towards their fathers.– The boy begins to experience feelings to posses

his mother and to take the place of his father

• The “Electra Complex” is basically the same desire for the parent of the opposite sex, but it focuses on the feelings of young girls.

The Latent Period

• The Latent Period is a stage in life where the desires of the Libido are suppressed.– This is the stage where the ego and superego are

very active.

• This stage in life usually starts around the time that children enter school– They become more focused on relationships with

other kids their age.– They also find more interest in hobbies or other

activities.

The Genital Period

• The last stage in Psychosexual development. • This is the stage where children begin to feel

strong sexual interest in the opposite sex.– This stage has a main focus on other people, while

the other stages were mainly focused on self needs

– This stage is important in creating a balance between the different life areas