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Sigmund Freud’sPsychosexual Theory

of Development

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PICTURE

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Sigmund Freud 

(May 6,1856 – September 23, 1939) -Austrian neurologistfounding father of psychoanalysis.

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Psychosexual Development -human beings, from birth, possess an instinctual libido (sexual energy) that develops in five stages.

1. oral2. anal3. phallic4. latent5. genital

Each stage is characterized by the erogenous zone that is the source of the libidinal drive. 

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 Background of Psychosexual Development

• Describes how personality develops during childhood• Personality is established by the age of five. • Early experiences play a large role in personality

development. Healthy personality-results when psychosexual stages

are completed successfully.

Fixation- persistent focuse on an earlier psychosexual stage

-occurs if certain issues are not resolved at the appropriate age.

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Oral Stage (Birth to 1 Year)Erogenous Zone: Mouth

-rooting and sucking reflex is important. - gratifying activities such as tasting and sucking.

Primary conflict: the weaning process-the child must become less dependent upon caretakers.

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Oral fixation can result in problems with drinking, eating, smoking, or nail biting.

• Too much gratification, the child DOES NOT learn that he or she DOES NOT control the environment, and thereby forming an immature personality.

• Too little gratification, the infant might become passive upon learning that gratification is not forthcoming.

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The Anal Stage (1 to 3 years)Erogenous Zone: Bowel and Bladder Control

Primary focus of the libido was on controlling bladder and bowel movements.

Major conflict: toilet training--the child has to learn to control his or her bodily needs.

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• Developing this control leads to a sense of accomplishment and independence.

• If parents are too lenient, anal-expulsive personality could develop: messy, wasteful or destructive personality.

• If parents are too strict or begin toilet training too early,  anal-retentive personality could develop: stringent, orderly, rigid and obsessive.

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The Phallic Stage (3 to 6 Years)Erogenous Zone: Genitals

Primary focus of the libido is on the genitals.

Children begin to discover the differences between males and females. 

 Oedipus complex- Boys begin to view their fathers as a rival for their mother’s affections

Electra complex has been used to described a similar set of feelings experienced by young girls.

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The Latent Period (6 to Puberty)Erogenous Zone: Sexual Feelings Are Inactive

• Libido interests are suppressed.

• Begins when children enter into school,

• sexual energy is directed into other areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions.

• • Important in the development of

social and communication skills and self-confidence.

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The Genital Stage (Puberty to Death)Erogenous Zone: Maturing Sexual Interests

• The individual develops a strong sexual interest in the opposite sex.

• Interest in the welfare of others grows during this stage.

• If the other stages have been completed successfully, the individual should now be well-balanced, warm and caring.

• GOAL: to establish a balance between the various life areas.

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Evaluating Freud’s Psychosexual Stage Theory

• The theory is focused almost entirely on male development with little mention of female psychosexual development.

• His theories are difficult to test scientifically. Concepts such as the libido are impossible to measure, and therefore cannot be tested. The research that has been conducted tends to discredit Freud's theory.

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Evaluating Freud’s Psychosexual Stage Theory

• Future predictions are too vague. How can we know that a current behavior was caused specifically by a childhood experience? The length of time between the cause and the effect is too long to assume that there is a relationship between the two variables.

• Freud's theory is based upon case studies and not empirical research. Also, Freud based his theory on the recollections of his adult patients, not on actual observation and study of children.