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UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY

Congressional North Campus

Topic: FREUD’S PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY

Discussant: Alegado, Princess Mher A.

BSE-ENG 1A

How does personality develop? According to the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud,
children go through a series of psychosexual stages that lead to the development of the adult
personality. His theory described how personality developed over the course of childhood.

His theory of psychosexual development includes five distinct stages. The theory is quite
interesting because Freud identified specific erogenous zone for each stage of development.
These are specific “pleasure areas” that become focal points for the particular stage. If needs are
not met along the area, a fixation occurs.

Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development

Oral Stage (birth to 18 months)

Erogenous zone – Mouth

During the oral stage, the infant's primary source of interaction occurs through the mouth,
so the rooting and sucking reflex is especially important. The mouth is vital for eating, and the
infant derives pleasure from oral stimulation through gratifying activities such as tasting and
sucking.

Successful fulfillment of the child’s feeding needs and proper weaning may result in the
establishment of trust. Too much or too little gratification can bring about an oral fixation for the
adult individual. This is represented by a preoccupation with oral activities such as drinking
alcohol, smoking, and over eating.
Anal Stage (18 months to 3 years)

Erogenous Zone – Anus

During the anal stage, the primary focus of the pleasure was on controlling bladder and
bowel movements. According to Freud, success at this stage is dependent upon the way in which
parents approach toilet training.

Inappropriate parental responses can result in negative outcomes. If parents take an approach
that is too lenient, Freud suggested that an anal-expulsive personality could develop in which
the individual has a messy, wasteful, or destructive personality. If parents are too strict or begin
toilet training too early, Freud believed that an anal-retentive personality develops in which the
individual is stringent, orderly, rigid, and obsessive.

Phallic Stage (3 to 6 years)

Erogenous Zone – Genitals

During the phallic stage, the focus of pleasure is the genitals. The child becomes aware of
anatomical sex differences, which sets in motion the conflict between erotic attraction,
resentment, rivalry, jealousy and fear which Freud called the Oedipus complex (in boys) and
the Electra complex (in girls).

This is resolved through the process of identification, which involves the child adopting the
characteristics of the same sex parent. A fixation at this stage could result in sexual deviancies
(both overindulging and avoidance) and weak or confused sexual identity according to
psychoanalysts.

Latency Stage (age 6 to puberty)

Erogenous Zone – Inactive

During the latency stage, the sexual energy is repressed or dormant. This energy is still
present, but it is sublimated into other areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions.
This stage is important in the development of social and communication skills and self-
confidence.
As with the other psychosexual stages, Freud believed that it was possible for children to
become fixated or "stuck" in this phase. Fixation at this stage can result in immaturity and an
inability to form fulfilling relationships as an adult.

Genital Stage (age 6 to puberty)

Erogenous Zone – Genitals

The focus at this Freud psychosexual stage is on the sexual urges that are reawakened and are
directed toward opposite sex peers, with genitals as the primary source of pleasure. It is a time of
adolescent sexual experimentation, the successful resolution of which is settling down in a loving
one-to-one relationship with another person in our 20's.

For Freud, the proper outlet of the sexual instinct in adults was through heterosexual
intercourse. Fixation and conflict may prevent this with the consequence that sexual perversions
may develop.

Freud’s Personality Component

According to Freud, our personality develops from the interactions among what he proposed as
the three fundamental structures of the human mind: the id, ego, and superego.

ID

The id, the most primitive of the three structures, it comprises our needs that require constant
fulfillment and operates on the pleasure principle, as well as the need for immediate gratification,
without regard for consequences or realities.

EGO

Contrary to the instinctive id, the ego is the rational and pragmatic part of our personality. It’s
less primitive than the id and is partly conscious and partly subconscious. The ego develops and
becomes active when individuals come into contact with other people. Ego helps to fulfil the id,
taking into account the reality of the situation.
SUPEREGO

The superego arises from the ego and develops as an internal representation of the moral
values of the environment. The Superego judges what we should morally do or not do, and
guides us about what should and should not’s of our lives. It rewards us with pride and positive
feelings upon doing good, and punishes us with feelings of guilt, shame or fear for not abiding
by values that we have set for ourselves.

References:

https://www.verywellmind.com/freuds-stages-of-psychosexual-development-2795962

https://www.simplypsychology.org/psychosexual.html

https://www.psychologynoteshq.com/freud-psychosexual-development/

https://www.toolshero.com/psychology/theories-of-personality/sigmund-freud-theory/

https://www.psychologynoteshq.com/freud-psychosexual-development/

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