Psychosexual Development Overview

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Questions and Answers

Which body part is the primary focus of gratification during the oral phase?

Feet

Genitals

Anus

Mouth (correct)

What can result from fixation during the oral phase?

Ambition and pride

Dependence on others (correct)

Excessive cleanliness

Rigid control over others

What character trait might develop from fixation during the anal phase?

Lack of ambition

Inability to form relationships

Hoarding behaviors (correct)

Self-centeredness

What psychological conflict arises during the anal phase due to toilet training?

Pleasure vs. parental conflict Signup and view all the answers

What occurs if a child is over-satisfied in a particular psychosexual stage?

Fixation to pregenital zones Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits can stem from the anal phase?

Ambition and rigidity Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of primary narcissism during the oral phase?

Focus on self-contained pleasure Signup and view all the answers

How does fixation during psychosexual development affect future development?

Reduces energy for subsequent stages Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the genital phase according to Freud?

Mature sexuality and productive work Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the phallic character traits?

Desire for competition or feelings of guilt Signup and view all the answers

What does the Oedipal complex in Freud's theory involve?

Unconscious desire for the opposite-sex parent Signup and view all the answers

How does Hartmann's theory conceptualize the autonomy of the ego?

As able to function independently of the id Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential outcome of limited genital productivity according to Freud?

Abnormal interests such as hoarding or obsession with money Signup and view all the answers

Which stage focuses on the resolution of the Oedipal conflict through the formation of the superego?

Phallic phase Signup and view all the answers

During which stage do sexual instincts become dormant?

Latent period Signup and view all the answers

What is a key concept introduced by Hartmann in regard to the ego?

The ego has independent energy resources Signup and view all the answers

In the absence of love, what can work become, according to the content?

A substitute for emotional fulfillment Signup and view all the answers

What concept connects Hartmann’s theory to Erikson’s psychosocial development theory?

The development of the ego across life stages Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychosexual Development

Partial Instincts: Erotic sensations focus on specific body parts (mouth, anus, genitals).
Libido in Stages: Libido attaches to different body areas during developmental stages, each with a focus on sexual pleasure.
Fixation: If a child doesn't progress to the next stage (due to unmet or over-satisfied needs), some libido remains, impacting later development. This reluctance or inability leads to less energy for future stages.
Freudian Libido: Energy of sexual instinctual origin; becomes fixated to pregenital zones if needs aren't met or are overly satisfied; creating less energy for future stages.

Stages of Psychosexual Development

Oral Phase

Focus: Mouth (nursing, sucking).
Gratification: Child's needs met through oral stimulation.
Ego Development: Learning self vs. external world.
Primary Narcissism: Self-contained pleasure; no self/other distinction initially.
Character Traits (fixation): Dependence, passivity, excessive oral satisfaction (smoking, overeating).

Anal Phase

Focus: Anus (pleasure from retaining/eliminating waste).
Conflict: Toilet training creates ambivalence (pleasure vs. parental conflict).
Character Traits (fixation):
Control & Order: Ambition, pride, over-control, cleanliness.
Opposite Traits: Sloppiness, lack of control, material irresponsibility.
Additional Traits: Anal pride, omnipotence (superiority, workaholism, rigidity).
Optimal Relationship: Balanced control (retaining/possessing/releasing) resolves ambivalence.
Origins: Envy, hostility, etc., can stem from either oral or anal stages.
Hoarding: Extreme difficulty discarding, linked to anxiety, fear of loss, and potential unresolved conflicts (anal-retentive).

Phallic Phase

Focus: Genitals.
Gender Differences: Curiosity about sex differences.
Oedipal Complex:
Desire: Unconscious desire for opposite-sex parent.
Conflict: Want to replace/harm same-sex parent (boys fear castration).
Freud's Example: Personal experience with love for mother, jealousy of father, and threats about genitals.
Resolution: Development of the superego (internalizing rules).
Character Traits (fixation): Desire, competition, or guilt.

Latency Period

Inactive Sexual Instincts: Sexual energy is dormant, focused on learning and social activities.

Genital Phase

Mature Sexuality: Final phase with fully mature sexuality.
Satisfaction: Fulfillment through work, relationships, and sexual satisfaction.
Optimal Adjustment: Healthy adjustment, balancing love and work.
Sublimation: Id impulses redirected to acceptable activities (work, creativity).
Limited Genital Productivity: Suppression may manifest in abnormal interests (money obsession).
Love vs. Work: Lack of love may lead to work substituting for emotional fulfillment.

Hartmann's Reformulation of the Ego

Id and Ego Development: Id and ego arise from the same source, with different paths.
Ego Autonomy: Ego can function independently of id impulses.
Primary Autonomous Ego Functions:
Develop in a conflict-free environment.
Include perception, thinking, language, intuition, comprehension, learning, motor function.
Independent Energy Resources: Ego develops its own energy, operating independently of the id.
Neutralization: Ego manages conflicts, maintaining autonomy.
Secondary Autonomy: Ego incorporates instinctual drives into conflict-free functioning; changing how it operates.
Ego Strength: Correlated with ego’s ability to neutralize conflicts.
Impact on Later Theories: Contributing to Erikson's Psychosocial Development and Object Relations Theory.

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Description

Explore the stages of psychosexual development according to Freud. This quiz delves into libido, fixation, and the characteristics of each stage, including the oral phase. Enhance your understanding of how early experiences shape personality and behavior later in life.