Overview
Psychosexual development is a foundational theory in psychology proposed by Sigmund Freud, outlining how personality develops through five distinct stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. Each stage is characterized by a focus on different erogenous zones and presents unique challenges th...
Key Terms
Example: The mouth is an erogenous zone during the oral stage.
Example: An adult who is overly dependent may have fixation at the oral stage.
Example: A boy may develop an Oedipus complex during the phallic stage.
Example: The Electra complex occurs during the phallic stage.
Example: During latency, children often engage in same-sex friendships.
Example: In the genital stage, individuals seek relationships with others.
Related Topics
Erikson's Psychosocial Development
Erikson's theory expands on Freud's ideas, focusing on social and emotional development across the lifespan.
intermediateAttachment Theory
Attachment theory explores the bonds between children and caregivers, influencing emotional and social development.
intermediateCognitive Development
Cognitive development theories, like those of Piaget, examine how thinking and understanding evolve in children.
intermediateKey Concepts
Oral StageAnal StagePhallic StageLatency StageGenital Stage