THE THEORY OF

PSYCHOSEXUAL
DEVELOPMENT
SIGMUND FREUD
 SIGMUND FREUD
• Suggested that
personality develops in
stages that are related to
specific erogenous
zones.

• Failure to complete the

stages, he suggested,
would lead to personality
problems in adulthood or
fixations.

• His theory described how

personality developed
over the course of
childhood.
 Important Terms:
 Erogenous Zone
 characterized as an area of the body that is
particularly sensitive to stimulation.
 Psychosexual Energy / Libido
 Described as the driving force behind behavior
 Psychoanalytic Theory
 Suggested that personality is mostly established
by the age of five.
 Fixations
 A persistent focus on an earlier psychosexual
stage.
LEVEL / STAGES CHARACTERISTICS / DEVELOPMENTAL
CHANGES
The Oral Stage Age Range: Birth to 1 Year
Erogenous Zone: Mouth
• Rooting and sucking reflex is
important.
• The child develops a sense of trust
and comfort through oral
stimulation.
• Primary conflict is the weaning
process.
Fixations:
• Issues with dependency or
aggression
• Problems with drinking, eating,
smoking or nail biting.
LEVEL / STAGES CHARACTERISTICS / DEVELOPMENTAL
CHANGES
The Anal Stage Age Range: 1 to 3 Years
Erogenous Zone: Bowel and Bladder
Control
• Major conflict is toilet training.
• Developing this control leads to a sense
of accomplishment and independence.
• Success at this age is dependent upon
the way in which parents approach
toilet training.
Fixations:
• Anal-Expulsive Personality (messy,
wasteful or destructive)
• Anal-Retentive Personality (stringent,
orderly, rigid and obsessive)
LEVEL / STAGES CHARACTERISTICS / DEVELOPMENTAL
CHANGES
The Phallic Age Range: 3 to 6 Years
Stage Erogenous Zone: Genitals
• Children begin to discover the
differences between males and
females.
• Boys begin to experience Oedipus
Complex and Electra Complex in
girls.
LEVEL / STAGES CHARACTERISTICS / DEVELOPMENTAL
CHANGES
The Latent Age Range: 6 to Puberty
Period Erogenous Zone: Sexual Feelings are
Inactive
• Children develop social skills, values
and relationships.
• A time of exploration in which the
sexual energy repressed or dormant.
Fixation
• Immaturity and an inability to form
fulfilling relationships as an adult.
LEVEL / STAGES CHARACTERISTICS / DEVELOPMENTAL
CHANGES
The Genital Age Range: Puberty to Death
Stage Erogenous Zone: Maturing Sexual
Interests
• The individual develops a strong
sexual interest in the opposite sex.
• Interest in the welfare of others grows
during this stage.
• The goal of this stage is to establish a
balance between the various life
areas.
• The ego and superego were fully
formed and functioning.
Evaluating Freud’s Psychosexual Stage Theory
 The theory is focused
almost entirely on male
development with little
mention of female
psychosexual
development.
 His theories are difficult
to test scientifically.
 Future predictions are
too vague.
 Freud’s theory is based
upon case studies and
not empirical research.
Thank
You!