Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development

Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development

1. Oral (birth to 1 year)

2. Anal (1 to 3 years)

3. Phallic (3 to 6 years)

4. Latency (6 to 12 years)

5. Genital (12+ years)

Oral Phase

Age: Birth to 1 year

Focus: Mouth

Conflict: Weaning

Fixation: Orally-focused habits (eating, drinking, smoking), pessimism, gullibilty

Anal Phase

Age: 1 to 3 years

Focus: Bowel control

Conflict: Toilet training

Fixation: Anal retentive (perfectionistic, tidy, stingy) or anal explosive (messy, lack of self control, carelessness)

Phallic

Age: 3 to 6 years

Focus: Genitals

Conflict: Desire for opposite sex parent

Fixation: Recklessness and narcissism or jealousy, resentment, rivalry, fear

Latency Phase

Age: 6 to 12 years

Focus: Diffuse

Sexual impulses are dormant

Time for social development, making friends, and learning

Genital Phase

Age: 12 years +

Focus: Genitals

Re-awakening of sexual desire for those outside of family

Allows for the development of mature sexual relationships