Psychodynamic Explanation: Freud's Theory Flashcards
Key assumptions of psychodynamic theory:
- Events in our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives, shaping our personality
- Events that occur in childhood can remain in the unconscious, and cause problems as adults
- Psychosexual stages of development
What are the five stages of psychosexual development?
- Oral
- Anal
- Phallic
- Latent
- Genital
What anagram can be used to remember the psychosexual stages of devlopment?
- Old
- Age
- Pensioner
- Love
- Gin
What age does oral stage occur?
0-1 years of age
What age does anal stage occur?
1-3 years of age
What age does phallic stage occur?
3-5 years of age
What age does latent stage occur?
6-11 years of age
What age does genital stage occur?
12+ years of age
Description of oral stage:
Focus of pleasure is the mouth, mother’s breast is object of desire.
Success of completion of oral stage:
Weaning – eating independently
Consequence of not completing oral stage:
Oral Fixation = sarcastic, critical, bite nails, may smoke
Description of anal stage:
Focus of pleasure is the anus. Child gains pleasure from withholding and expelling faeces
Success of completion of anal stage:
Potty training
Consequence of not completing anal stage:
- Anally retentive = very tidy, stubborn, likes order and being in control, perfectionist
- Anally expulsive = Thoughtless, messy
Description of the phallic stage:
- Focus of pleasure is the genital area.
- Child experiences the Oedipus or Electra Complex.
Success of completion of phallic stage:
- Boys identify with father, taking on his gender role and moral values
- Girls identify with their mother and replace their desire for their father with desire for a baby
Consequence of not completing the phallic stage:
Phallic personality – narcissistic, reckless, possibly homosexual
Description of latency stage:
Earlier conflicts are repressed, sexual urges are sublimated into sports and hobbies, same sex friendships.
