THE ORIGIN OF

PERSONALITY
ACCORDING TO
FREUD
 • In Freud's view, a balance in the dynamic interaction
of the id, ego, and superego is necessary for a healthy
personality.
• ID – basis of primitive impulses
- driven by “pleasure principle”
- immediate gratification of our urges
• EGO – driven by “reality principle”
- conscious controller and decision maker
of personality
- to delay gratification; wait for
appropriate time and outlet
• SUPER EGO – sense of morality – what is good?
- conscience
THE ID, EGO, &
- strive for perfection
SUPEREGO
DEFENSE MECHANISMS
Sigmund Freud’s
Psychosexual Theory
• Personality develops through a series of childhood
stages in which the pleasure-seeking energies of
the ID become focused on certain erogenous
areas.
• Libido , the psychosexual energy, is the driving
force behind behavior.
• If these psychosexual stages are completed
successfully, a healthy personality is the result.
• If issues are NOT resolved at the appropriate
stage, fixations can occur.
Each psychosexual stage has 3 main parts:

1. A physical focus: where the child’s energy is

concentrated and their gratification obtained.
2. A psychological theme: this is related to both the
physical focus and the demands being made on the
child by the outside world as he/she develops. For
each stage, there can be two extremes in psychological
reaction - either doing too much or not enough of what
is ideal.
3. An adult character type: in the first three stages this
adult character type is one that is related to being
fixated or stuck at that stage. If a person doesn’t
resolve the psychological issues that arise at that stage
they will always have problems relating to those issues.
 Stages of Freud's Psychosexual Theory
Stages Physical Focus Psychological Theme Adult Character

Oral Mouth, lips, dependency Highly dependent or highly

tongue independent
Anal Anus (elimination) Self-control / obedience Anally retentive or
Anally expulsive
Phallic penis Morality and sexual identification, Promiscuous and amoral /
figuring out what it means to be a asexual and puritanical
girl/boy
Latency
Genital genitals Maturity and creation and Balance of both love and
enhancement of life work
 Stages of Freud's Psychosexual Theory
Stage Ages Focus of Libido Major Development Adult Fixation Example
Oral 0–1 Mouth, tongue, Weaning off of breastfeeding or Forceful feeding
lips formula Underfed  Oral passive: trusting,
dependency
Overfed  Oral aggressive: aggressive,
dominating
Anal 1–3 Anus Toilet training Toilet training
To harsh  Anal retentive: tidiness,
obsessiveness, mean, stubborn
Too lax  Anal expulsive: untidiness,
generosity
Phallic 3–6 Genitals Resolving Oedipus Electra Complex Vanity, self-obsession, sexual anxiety,
(Abnormal family set-up leading to inadequacy inferiority envy
unusual relationship with
mother/father)
Latency 6 – 12 None Developing defense mechanisms None
Genital 12 + Genitals Reaching full sexual maturity Well-adjusted, mature, able to love and be
Settling down in a loving one-to-one loved.
relationship with another Sexual instinct is directed to heterosexual
pleasure.
 Freud's Psychosexual Theory:
A Developmental Journey
1 1. ORAL STAGE
Experience the pleasure-
2. ANAL STAGE seeking and dependency of
2 the oral stage, where
Discover the intricacies of infants explore the world
potty training and the through their mouths.
formation of control and
order during the anal stage 3 3. PHALLIC STAGE
of development. Unveil the Oedipus and
Electra complexes, as
4. LATENCY STAGE 4 children navigate their
evolving sexual identities
Embark on a period of and parental relationships.
relative calm, where
children focus on school, 5 5. GENITAL STAGE
hobbies, and same-sex
friendships. Explore the flourishing of
sexual desires and healthy
adult relationships during
this final stage of
psychosexual development.