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Freud's Psychosexual Development

Freud's theory of psychosexual development proposes that we pass through five stages of libidinal development from birth to adulthood: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. Traumatic experiences during these early stages can lead to fixations later in life. The document then describes three children, Michael, Eric, and Ada's experiences through these stages and how their outcomes differed based on the presence or absence of trauma.

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Annabelle Buenaflor
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© © All Rights Reserved
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227 views

Freud's Psychosexual Development

Freud's theory of psychosexual development proposes that we pass through five stages of libidinal development from birth to adulthood: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. Traumatic experiences during these early stages can lead to fixations later in life. The document then describes three children, Michael, Eric, and Ada's experiences through these stages and how their outcomes differed based on the presence or absence of trauma.

Uploaded by

Annabelle Buenaflor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Freud’s Psychosexual Development

Today we’re going to talk about Sigmund Freud’s Psychosexual Development

SCENE 1
Freud’s theory of psychosexual development claims that as we grow up we pass through five
critical phases.
 
SCENE 2
Our sex drive, which Freud called the libido, focuses in a different erogenous zone at each phase.
The phases are called: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.
 
SCENE 3
If our experience during any of these phases was traumatic we might develop fixations later in
life, such as neurosis, dependencies, addictions, or even depression.
 
SCENE 4
The oral phase, age 0-1. 

In the first year of our lives, we discover the world through our oral senses. Our main pleasure
comes from sucking our mother’s breast or a bottle. The conflict that occurs now is the weaning
from our primary caregiver.
Michael is weaned off his mother's breast without trauma. 

Eric's mother stops feeding him within 4 months of birth, which is too early.

Ada is often left alone crying when she is hungry.


 
SCENE 5
Michael becomes a healthy and independent adult.

Eric suffers from trauma and develops an oral fixation. He tries to compensate for it by chewing
gum all the time.

Ada spends her entire life looking for the oral stimulation she was denied as an infant and
therefore develops a manipulative and addictive personality.
 
SCENE 6
The anal phase, age 1-3

The primary focus of our libido at this age is the control of the bladder and bowel movements.
We have to learn how to use the toilet.

Michael’ parents praise his attempts to use the toilet and encourage him to learn at his own pace.

Eric's parents force potty training on him too early and punish him for mistakes.
Page 1 of 4
Narrated by: Phuchia May C. Gales, RPm
Source: Sprouts School
Ada's parents neglect any efforts at potty training entirely.
 
SCENE 7
Michael develops a competent personality and a good and balanced relationship with authority.

Eric develops an anal-retentive personality: he becomes an over-controlling and stingy adult,


with disgust for his own body and a tendency to obey authority.

Ada develops an anal-expulsive personality: She becomes messy, disorganized, inconsiderate of


other people’s feelings, and rebellious against authority.
 
SCENE 8
The phallic phase (age 3-6)

Our libido now turns to the genitals as we discover the differences between the female and the
male gender.

The boys' conflict in this phase occurs as a rivalry with their father, also called the “Oedipus
Complex”. Eric and Michael desire to possess their mother and fantasize about getting rid of
their father.

But they know that their father is stronger and fear being punished for their desire. Freud called
this “castration anxiety”.

Ada experiences “penis envy”. She believes that a penis is the key to power and domination and
also wants one.
 
SCENE 9
Michael' father was very present during that phase. Later Michael resolves this conflict by
identifying strongly with him. He learns to take on a male role. As an adult, he respects both
genders.

Eric, whose father was absent during that phase, fails to develop a strong sense of manhood. He
has a mother fixation and is not sure about his sexuality. He also tends to be aggressive towards
women and constantly needs to compete with other men.

Ada, like all women, maintains her penis envy for the rest of her life, which in her case causes an
inferiority complex towards men.
 

SCENE 10
Latent phase (age 7-13)
In this phase, our libido is suppressed as our sexual energy is being sublimed into developing life
skills. Our superego strengthens and we strongly identify with social values, same-sex heroes,
and friends.
Page 2 of 4
Narrated by: Phuchia May C. Gales, RPm
Source: Sprouts School
Michael follows many hobbies.

Eric loves learning at school and

Ada makes lots of new girlfriends.


 
SCENE 11
There is no real conflict in this phase. All three of them benefit for the rest of their lives from the
skills they developed during latency.
 
SCENE 12
The genital phase, puberty to death. Once we reach puberty our libido starts to become active
again and we develop an interest in sexual partners.

Michael, Ada, and Eric face the challenge of balancing the sexual desires of the id and the needs
of the “superego”’ to obey social norms. The development of a strong “ego” helps to find a
compromise between the two.
 
SCENE 13
Michael, who has experienced a childhood without much trauma, succeeds in building a strong
ego. He is disciplined at work, has a loving relationship, and a fulfilled sex life.

Eric’s ego is weaker than his superego. He obeys norms and authorities and as a result
suppresses his desires which lead to the development of perversions.

Ada has a weak ego and a weak superego. Her sexual needs are more important than social
norms or other people's feelings. She is egoistic and feels no guilt for breaking the law or hurting
others.
 
SCENE 14
To understand the theory we need to see it in the context of Freud's famous work on the
unconscious. By acknowledging that we have a subconscious, he also implied that we store
memories of early childhood and other experiences without even realizing it. These past
experiences then unconsciously influence our behavior on a daily basis.

SCENE 15
Freud claimed that our mind operates in three spheres which we can imagine as a submarine. The
Unconscious level operates the Id. The Preconscious level operates the Superego. The Conscious
and Preconscious levels operate our Ego.

SCENE 16
Young children are driven by the Id and demand immediate satisfaction. At around age seven we
begin to develop a Superego and want to become good moral citizens and please others. The Ego
is formed with adolescence to balance the two forces.

Page 3 of 4
Narrated by: Phuchia May C. Gales, RPm
Source: Sprouts School
SCENE 17
Sigmund Shlomo Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of Psychoanalysis.

Freud theorized that the unconscious would remember and store all our experiences, later they
pop up from time to time through dreams and associative thoughts.

By revealing traumatic memories and desires through conversation we can free ourselves from
our neuroses and live a more healthy and fulfilled life.

He recommended: “we should not strive to eliminate our complexes but to get into accord with
them: they are legitimately what directs our conduct in the world.”
 
SCENE 18
What do you think about this theory and the practice of psychoanalysis?

Is there some truth in it?

Do we have an unconscious?
If so, does it really store all our childhood experiences and influence our behavior as adults?

Thank you for listening and keep safe always.

Page 4 of 4
Narrated by: Phuchia May C. Gales, RPm
Source: Sprouts School

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