Freud's Theory of Psychosexual Development

• Theories of human development are examined and analyzed.
• Appreciating the theories of human development is significant in understanding human behavior.
• Theories are logically related concepts or statements that explain development and predicts behavior under specific conditions.
• Theories help organize, interpret research data, and connect isolated pieces of information.

Sigmund Freud's Theory of Psychosexual Development

• People are born with innate biological drives that must get redirected to live in society.
• Early experiences shape adult behavior.
• Emphasis on the unconscious mind.

Structure of Personality

• ID operates based on the pleasure principle.
• EGO operates based on the reality principle.
• SUPEREGO operates based on the moral principle.

ID

• The ID works under the pleasure principle, to seek immediate satisfaction.
• It operates unconsciously, fulfilling basic urges without considering the consequences.
• Newborns are governed by the ID.

EGO

• The ego operates under the reality principle, finding realistic ways to gratify the id.
• The ego's goal is to balance the id's desires with what is acceptable to the superego.
• It develops during the first year or so of life.

SUPEREGO

• The Superego operates under the morality principle, which includes conscience and incorporates socially approved "shoulds" and "should nots" into the child's value system.
• It enforces strict moral standards, leading to guilt or anxiety if the standards are not followed.
• The superego develops around age 5 or 6.
• Personality develops through five psychosexual stages.

Foundation of Psychosexual Development

• Libido focuses on specific erogenous zones during different stages of development.

Stages of Psychosexual Development

• Oral Stage is from 0 to 1 year old.
• Anal Stage is from 1-year-old to 3-year-old.
• Phallic Stage is from 3-year-old to 6-year-old.
• Latency Stage is from 6-year-old to puberty.
• Genital Stage is from puberty to death.

Oral Stage (0 to 1-year-old)

• The erogenous zone is the mouth.
• Infants derive pleasure from activities like breastfeeding and using a pacifier.
• Overgratification in the oral stage leads to behaviors like thumbsucking, overeating, smoking, or chewing gum.
• Undergratification in the oral stage results in pessimism or feelings of dissatisfaction in adulthood.

Anal Stage (1-year-old to 3-year-old)

• The erogenous zone for this stage is Anus.
• Key conflict, involves learning self-control during toilet training.
• Over-controlling parents lead to anal-retentive traits, such as being rigid and overly organized.
• Lax parenting leads to anal-expulsive traits that involve being messy and careless.

Phallic Stage (3 to 6-year-old)

• The term phallic is derived from the word "phallus" (penis).
• The erogenous zone is Genitals.
• Involves unconscious sexual attraction to opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent.
• Male Oedipus Complex involves castration anxiety
• Female Oedipus Complex is also know as Electra Complex.
• Electra Complex was coined by Carl Jung.
• Defense mechanism: Identification with same sex parent, adopting their traits.

Latency Stage (6 to 11-year-old)

• The erogenous zone is Dormant.
• Sexual energy is dormant and sublimated into intellectual and social pursuits.
• Focus shifts from family to peers and relationships with others outside the family.
• Children explore hobbies, social skills, and build self-confidence in this stage.

Genital Stage (12-year-old and Above)

• The erogenous zone is centered around Maturing Sexual Interests.
• Reactivation of sexual energy happens at the onset of puberty, with a focus on forming mature relationships. Individuals show concern for others' well-being and aim for balanced relationships.

Psychosexual Theory Critiques

• Importance of unconscious processes is recognised.
• The role of childhood experiences in personality development are also key.
• Overemphasis on sexual/aggressive drives, cultural bias, and lack of scientific evidence.
• Mental representations in relationships, and the path from dependence to interdependence occurs.

Erik Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

• This development extended Freudian theory and is focused on societal influences.
• Social influence on the development of personality.
• A life-span perspective consisting of eight stages.
• Each stage involves a crisis in personality that requires resolution.
• Synthesis of syntonic and dystonic elements balances the positive and negative tendencies for optimal development.
• Crises are major psychosocial challenges at each stage.
• Virtues are the strengths developed upon the successful resolution of a stage.

Stages of Psychosocial Development

• Trust versus mistrust takes place from birth to 18 months old.
• Autonomy versus shame and doubt occurs from 18 months to 3 years old.
• Initiative versus guilt takes place from 3 to 6 years old.
• Industry versus inferiority occurs from 6 years old to puberty.
• Identity versus identity confusion takes place in puberty to young adulthood.
• Intimacy versus isolation happens in young adulthood.
• Generativity versus stagnation takes place in middle adulthood.
• Ego Integrity versus despair happens in late adulthood.

Trust vs Mistrust (Birth to 18 Months)

• Children learn that the world is a safe and nurturing place or that it is mistrustful and frightening.
• A caregiver's response shapes a child's trust or mistrust.
• Consistent care fosters trust and security, whereas inconsistent care leads to mistrust and insecurity.
• Balance prevents gullibility and trust issues.
• Nurturing hope is the belief that needs get met by taking a balanced approach.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (18 months to 3 years)

• Children explore and express themselves to develop autonomy.
• Support and encouragement fosters independence and confidence.
• Criticism and restriction leads to shame, self-doubt, and hesitation.
• Too much autonomy leads to entitlement, too much criticism leads to withdrawal.
• Achieving balance develops willpower (the ability to express doing things independently).

Initiative vs Guilt (3 to 6 Years)

• Children explore roles through activities like role-playing.
• Support and encouragement fosters initiative and confidence.
• Scolding and lack of support leads to guilt and hesitation.
• Too much freedom leads to inappropriate role adoption, whereas too much restriction may hinder exploration.
• Purpose, helps children gain clarity about their future roles by achieving balance.

Industry vs Inferiority (6 Years to Puberty)

• Children test their abilities to seek validation
• Positive feedback fosters industriousness and competence.
• Constant criticism leads to feelings of inferiority.
• Encouragement builds confidence and excessive criticism leads to feelings of inferiority.
• Achieving balance helps develop competence.

Identity vs Identity Confusion (Puberty to Young Adulthood)

• The main task of adolescence is to achieve a sense of identity.
• Identity crisis occurs.
• Exploration through trial and error determines who they are and who they want to be.
• Success develops fidelity (faith in their beliefs and values), and failure leads to identity confusion.

Intimacy vs Isolation (Young Adulthood)

• Forming close, and loving connections occurs (romantic, platonic, familial, etc).
• Intimacy means the ability to care about the others and share the experiences.
• Isolation means be feeling alone and uncared for.
• Some isolation aids self-discovery, and too much isolation hinders deep connections.
• Achieving balance fosters love and a foundation of lasting relationships.

Generativity vs Stagnation (Middle Adulthood)

• Generativity involves contributing to and caring for the next generation, including societal improvement.
• Stagnation represents feeling stuck, unproductive and lack of purpouse.
• Balancing the two fosters care: this means caring for others, society, and themself.

Ego Integrity vs Despair (Late Adulthood)

• Experiencing ego integrity allows individuals to feel at peace with their successful life history.
• Despair occurs when people feel they've failed, leading to negative emotions.
• Balance results in wisdom, and wisdom promotes accepting the past and preparing for death

Psychosocial Theory Key Contributions

• Recognition of social and cultural context.
• Development continues beyond adolescence.
• Growth and improvement is possible at any stage.
• A crisis can get resolved positively at any point.