Psychosexual Stages Quiz & Flashcards

Study Notes

Unresolved conflicts or fixations during psychosexual stages can lead to unconscious manifestations of sexual and aggressive impulses, influencing behavior.
Defense mechanisms are developed to cope with anxieties arising during psychosexual development, shaping personality and behavior over time.
Navigation through the psychosexual stages impacts an individual's capacity to form healthy intimate relationships, influencing attachment styles and relational dynamics.

Freud's theory is subjective, based on clinical observations, and is difficult to empirically test or validate.
The theory exhibits gender bias, primarily reflecting male-centric perspectives and failing to consider women's and marginalized genders' unique experiences.
Cultural insensitivity arises from Freud's emphasis on sexuality as the primary driver of behavior, neglecting the complex influences of societal factors.
The reductionist approach simplifies the intricate interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in personality formation.

Personality formation is influenced by how individuals navigate psychosexual stages, impacting core traits and defense mechanisms.
Unresolved conflicts at any stage may lead to the unconscious expression of sexual and aggressive drives that are essential in understanding human behavior.
Insights from psychosexual development are vital in psychoanalytic therapy for identifying root causes of psychological issues.

Focus on feeding and exploration through the mouth leads to dependency issues.
Successful resolution fosters optimism and trust; fixation results in suspicion and pessimism, possibly leading to behaviors like nail-biting or overeating.

Attention turns to bowel and bladder control, associated with self-regulation.
Resolution fosters independence and organization; fixation may result in rigidity and compulsive behaviors, such as perfectionism and passive-aggression.

Children become aware of genital differences, developing sexual feelings towards opposite-sex parents and rivalry with same-sex parents.
Successful resolution of these complexes is essential for developing a healthy sexual identity and reciprocal relationships.

During the latency stage, sexual interests are repressed, enabling the development of social and cognitive skills through school and friendships.
In the genital stage, sexual interests re-emerge, promoting the ability to form mature, fulfilling intimate partnerships. Successful navigation of this stage results in healthy relationships.