Freud's Psychosexual Development Stages: Key Concepts and Fixations

Freud's psychosexual theory

States that personality develops through five stages—Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital—each focused on a different erogenous zone where pleasure-seeking libido concentrates.

Oral Stage

Birth to 18 months; Erogenous Zone: Mouth; Focus: Infants derive pleasure from oral activities like sucking and tasting.

Oral Stage Conflict/Fixation

The primary conflict is the weaning process. Unresolved issues can lead to fixations related to overeating, smoking, nail-biting, or issues with dependency.

Anal Stage

18 months to 3 years; Erogenous Zone: Bowels and Bladder; Focus: The main conflict is toilet training.

Anal Stage Conflict/Fixation

A child's experience with toilet training can lead to an anal-retentive (orderly, controlling) or anal-expulsive (messy, disorganized) personality.

Phallic Stage

3 to 6 years; Erogenous Zone: Genitals; Focus: Children become more aware of their genitals and begin to feel sexual desire.

Phallic Stage Conflict/Fixation

Successful resolution involves identifying with the same-sex parent, leading to a healthy personality and the development of the superego.

Latency Stage

6 to 12 years; Erogenous Zone: None; Focus: Sexual urges are repressed, and children focus on developing social skills.

Latency Stage Conflict/Fixation

Issues in this stage often lead to a lack of focus on personal growth.

Genital Stage

12 years and onwards; Erogenous Zone: Genitals; Focus: Sexual interests re-emerge, and individuals develop mature sexual relationships.

Genital Stage Conflict/Fixation

Successful progression through this stage leads to a balanced and healthy personality capable of forming healthy relationships.

Erogenous Zone

A specific area of the body that is sensitive and can lead to sexual pleasure when stimulated.

Fixation

A persistent focus on an earlier psychosexual stage due to unresolved conflicts.

Anal-retentive personality

Characterized by orderliness and control, often resulting from strict toilet training.

Anal-expulsive personality

Characterized by messiness and disorganization, often resulting from lenient toilet training.

Superego

The part of the personality that represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment.

Psychosexual stages

The five stages of development proposed by Freud, each associated with a different erogenous zone.