Who Was Sigmund Freud?
Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst who redefined sexuality in a way that considered sexual development a part of human growth and development right from infancy.
What Was the Perspective of Freud on Human Sexuality?
Freud claimed that sexual drive develops in the formative years. This is manifested as erogenous zones in the body, which progressively change over time. Sexuality begins in the infant stage and contributes to personality development, with changes in sexual energy as biological maturity occurs and continues to grow over time.
Freud believed that human life runs on tension and pleasure. However, he defined this tension as a product of sexual libido or energy being built up within the body. His solution to this tension was a sexual release or the discharge of this sexual energy.
What Is Conflict Resolution in Psychosexual Development According to Freud?
Freud talked of psychosexual development in terms of conflicts that needed to be resolved before moving on to the next stage. Significant expenditure of sexual energy is required in order to resolve these conflicts. If at any stage, the amount of energy expended is over the average, or conversely is barely enough and has been repressed somehow, this will end up impacting their future in some way. The characteristics developed during this stage will influence the future behavior of the individual and the way they mature psychologically.
What Are Five Stages of Psychosexual Development According to Freud?
The psychosexual stages of personality development, as suggested by Freud, represent the fixation of libido or the resolution of conflict at different stages in childhood. The physical growth and maturity experienced by individuals correspond to the areas of their bodies that act as erogenous zones in each stage. These zones may be points of pleasure or frustration depending on the feelings associated with particular feelings and events.
The five stages of psychosexual development according, to Freud, are:
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Oral Stage- The oral stage of psychosexual development lasts from birth to 1 year of age. During this stage, the fixation of the child is centered on its mouth and oral stimulation as a source of pleasure. This may involve actions like breastfeeding, sucking, and biting. The primary satisfaction of the child lies in putting various objects in its mouth, which provides a resolution of the libidinal urges. Children whose oral stage conflicts remain unresolved or repressed may often carry oral stimulation-based habits with them through life. They may become nail-biters, smokers, and thumb suckers. These habits are particularly dominant in moments of stress and anxiety.
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Anal Stage- The anal stage typically begins at around one year of age and until the child is about three years old. The libido fixation at this stage is the anus, and defecation is a source of pleasure. Additionally, this is the stage where self-awareness develops, and the child is conscious of their identity as an individual. They also become aware at this stage that the things they do and feel are not necessarily in accordance with outside expectations and may start to develop conflicting internal and external desires. The key defining factor in this stage is potty training, where restrictions may be placed on the child as to where they can defecate. Depending on the harshness and severity with which potty training is conducted, the child will develop certain personality traits that will carry into their future. They may grow up to be highly people-pleasing, perfectionism-oriented, selfish, or laid back, messy, and generous.
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Phallic Stage- The phallic stage (ages 3 to 6) puts the genitalia at the center of the child’s pleasure. The genitalia is the erotic source of the child’s sexual desires and can cause an awareness of sexual identity in terms of sexual anatomy. This is also accompanied by feelings and emotions towards parental figures of the opposite sex, that influence the patterns of sexuality. This may manifest as an Oedipus complex (sexual attraction towards one’s mother) experienced by males or an Electra complex (brief sexual attraction towards one’s father, followed by the desire to own a penis) experienced by females. Both sexes may experience initial feelings of resentment toward the parent of the same sex, but the resolution of this stage usually occurs through imitation of the nature and characteristics of that parent. This is referred to as taking on a gender role (male or female).
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Latent Stage- From 6 years of age until puberty is attained, the child is in the latency stage of psychosexual development. This stage is characterized by dormant sexual energy with no apparent psychosexual development. During this stage, the focus of the child shifts to their friends (usually of the same gender), their schoolwork, and their interests and hobbies. Their attention and energy is devoted toward these avenues, which damps down their sexual energy or keeps it latent. It is also during this stage that the process of acquiring knowledge and learning new skills takes place. These skills may be general skills performed by most individuals or specific skills in relation to specific tasks or hobbies.
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Genital Stage- The genital stage begins at puberty and continues into adulthood. This stage begins with sexual experimentation (exploration of one’s sexual energy and identity) and may successfully conclude with a settled, loving relationship in adulthood. In this stage, the focus is not necessarily on self-pleasure, but usually involves the other member in the relationship. Freud represented this as heterosexual instinctual desires and pleasure. In a well-balanced individual who has gone through the previous stages of psychosexual development with adequate resolution, this stage is also usually properly resolved. In adults who still carry unresolved issues and fixation from one particular stage, their sexual energy and interests may deviate from the expected norms.
What Happens if the Resolution of Psychosexual Development Is Inadequate?
Inadequate resolution of psychosexual development will usually cause the phenomenon of fixation. Fixation may occur either due to frustration with regard to one’s needs at a particular stage of development (inadequate attention to the needs at that stage) or due to overindulgence (needs were met so well that the person is unwilling to give up on the benefits experienced during that stage). In either case, the end result is fixation and a tendency to revert to behaviors characteristic of that particular stage.
Conclusion
Sexuality, as detailed by Sigmund Freud, is not merely limited to psychosexual development, although it forms the basis of the understanding of sexuality and sexual natures. Understanding sexuality can provide insight into the reasons for certain personality traits and sexual traits exhibited by people.
