Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistorical SignificanceWhat Is Psychosexual Theory?Link to Psychoanalytic TheoryFreud’s 5 StagesCriticisms of Psychosexual DevelopmentNotable Alternative TheoriesSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Historical Significance
What Is Psychosexual Theory?
Link to Psychoanalytic Theory
Freud’s 5 Stages
Criticisms of Psychosexual Development
Notable Alternative Theories
Summary
Sigmund Freud’s early 20th-century psychosexual theory proposed that an individual’s personality develops through a series of five childhood stages.
Each stage correlates with a pleasure zone (also called an erogenous zone) of the body. Though the theory was considered groundbreaking at the time, it was not without its biases and flaws, and it faced criticism from other world-renowned psychology figures such as Carl Jung and Erik Erikson.
This article will dive deeper into Freud’s psychosexual theory of development and identify its areas of modern-day concern.
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Historical Significance of Sigmund Freud
One of the defining characteristics of psychoanalysis is the understanding and distinction of conscious and unconscious thoughts and the focus on bringing unconscious elements to the forefront of one’s mind for proper management.
In addition to the introduction of psychoanalysis, Freud also proposed several other theories, including his psychosexual development theory, which the following will explore further. Freud’s many contributions to the world of medicine and psychology world earned him the nickname “the father of modern psychology.”
Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual theory suggests that an individual’s personality and sexuality evolve through five different stages of life. During each stage, different pleasure-seeking or sexual energies become focused on specificerogenousregions of the body.
Freud believed these erogenous zones then led to either sources of pleasure or frustration, which would ultimately make an impact on the development of the personality of an individual.
Each Stage Explains Child Development
Freud deeply believed that an individual’s childhood experiences directly and greatly influenced who they would become in adulthood. His particular psychosexual theory suggests that in addition to adequate socialization, progressing through each psychosexual stage properly without getting “stuck” in a given stage was critical in developing into a “healthy” adult.
Fixations May Affect Progression
Freud believed that if issues arose and were not expressed or dealt with properly during the affected stage, “fixations” would develop.In psychology, sexual fixations are the notion that a person’s libido or sexual energy is “stuck” at a particular psychosexual stage and will remain as such without intervention.
According to the theory, unless the underlying reason for the fixation is addressed, it will persist.
Freud’spsychoanalytic theoryhypothesized that an individual’s personality is determined in early life, around the age of 5. In addition to his psychosexual theory, Freud also had a personality theory in which he believed a person’s inner psyche consisted of three separate entities: the id, the ego, and the superego.
The id is essentially the part of the personality that urges one to satisfy their primal or basic needs. Think of the id as the unconscious part of the mind. Gratification is granted when the needs of the id are satisfied. The ego is the part of the personality that’s based in reality, or rather, the conscious state of the mind.
The ego helps to mediate the id and the superego. The superego is the part of the personality that develops later in life through social interactions and influences.
Freud believed that if an issue arose during a particular developmental stage and was not addressed accordingly, a fixation would develop that could ultimately negatively affect an individual’s personality.
However, if a person is able to successfully mature through each stage without any unresolved issues, then a “healthy” personality would result.
The five stages Freud identified in his psychosexual theory are:
Though Freud has certainly made several contributions to the world of modern psychology, he and his theories have not developed over time without facing some backlash and criticism from both within the world of psychological scientific study and outside of it.
Theory Isn’t Gender Inclusive
Perhaps one of the most notable aspects of Freud’s psychosexual theory is that it focuses almost exclusively on the male gender’s development. There was little if no mention of females and their subsequent development.
Research Methods
Many of Sigmund Freud’s theories, including the psychosexual theory, are difficult to validate because they are based on case studies. As a result, the scientific method cannot easily repeat their findings and observations.
There is simply no means for quantifying sexual energies or libidos, and discussing such complex emotions and feelings with young children would be considered morally and ethically wrong.
What About Homosexuality?
Freud’s psychosexual theory is geared toward understanding the development of heterosexual males and fails to acknowledge homosexual development. This can be illustrated most clearly in his discussion of the genital stage of his psychosexual theory, in which he states that it is during this final stage that individuals become attracted to the opposite gender.
But what if they don’t? What if they instead develop attractions to people of their own gender? Or to both genders? Freud did not take these notions into account, which has led to marked criticism in today’s world.
Erikson’s theory placed more emphasis on the social experiences of an individual throughout their lifespan, with some stages focusing on trust versus mistrust, intimacy versus isolation, integrity versus despair, and so on.
These are just two alternatives to Freud’s psychosexual theory, but others exist as well.
Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychosexual development focuses on an individual’s early childhood experience and how it relates to the development of their personality. Freud identified five stages in which he thought development occurred. Since its publication, the psychosexual theory has come under much scrutiny for its lack of research and its lack of inclusivity.
A Word From Verywell
If you’re interested in delving deeper into the inner workings of your mind, it is always best to speak with a licensed mental health practitioner. Whether it’s a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed mental health counselor, or social worker, there are several healthcare providers who are well versed in various psychological schools of thought and can determine the best plan and path for you.
Frequently Asked QuestionsFreud believed that if a person went through a crisis during a particular stage, then they would manifest the fixations of that particular stage later in life. For example, if an infant experienced difficulty breastfeeding, later in life they may develop oral fixations such as poor oral habits like nail biting or smoking.Freud’s theory proposed that if an individual progressed through each stage without incident, they would develop a “healthy” personality. If a person became fixated at any stage, they would inevitably manifest that fixation later in life.Though there is no denying that Freud greatly contributed to modern-day psychology, his psychosexual development theory is no longer strongly supported. In fact, many modern psychologists admit that Freud’s psychosexual theory has not evolved with our modern-day world as its views are heterosexual male-dominated views and do not account for homosexual, bisexual, or pansexual viewpoints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Freud believed that if a person went through a crisis during a particular stage, then they would manifest the fixations of that particular stage later in life. For example, if an infant experienced difficulty breastfeeding, later in life they may develop oral fixations such as poor oral habits like nail biting or smoking.
Freud’s theory proposed that if an individual progressed through each stage without incident, they would develop a “healthy” personality. If a person became fixated at any stage, they would inevitably manifest that fixation later in life.
Though there is no denying that Freud greatly contributed to modern-day psychology, his psychosexual development theory is no longer strongly supported. In fact, many modern psychologists admit that Freud’s psychosexual theory has not evolved with our modern-day world as its views are heterosexual male-dominated views and do not account for homosexual, bisexual, or pansexual viewpoints.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Simply Psychology.Freud’s 5 stages of psychosexual development.Kesavelu D, Sheela K, Abraham P.Stages of psychological development of child-an overview.IJCRR. 2021;13(13):74-78. doi:10.31782/IJCRR.2021.131320
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Simply Psychology.Freud’s 5 stages of psychosexual development.Kesavelu D, Sheela K, Abraham P.Stages of psychological development of child-an overview.IJCRR. 2021;13(13):74-78. doi:10.31782/IJCRR.2021.131320
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Simply Psychology.Freud’s 5 stages of psychosexual development.Kesavelu D, Sheela K, Abraham P.Stages of psychological development of child-an overview.IJCRR. 2021;13(13):74-78. doi:10.31782/IJCRR.2021.131320
Simply Psychology.Freud’s 5 stages of psychosexual development.
Kesavelu D, Sheela K, Abraham P.Stages of psychological development of child-an overview.IJCRR. 2021;13(13):74-78. doi:10.31782/IJCRR.2021.131320
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