Lesson 2:

Two Prominent
Theories in
Child
Development
Ms. Marivic E. Espaldon, LPT
FS1-Instructor
 Insert or Drag and Drop your Image

Sigmund Freud
The father of psychoanalysis, was a
physiologist, medical doctor, psychologist and influential
thinker of the early twentieth century.
Proponent of
Psychosexual Stages of Development.

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Psychosexual Stages of Development
Freud's psychosexual theory states five stages of human development: oral, anal,
phallic, latency, and genital. These psychosexual stages capture the main growth points
of a person from infancy to adulthood and focus on different facets of wants, needs,
and desires.
Here are three terms Freud used within this theory:
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• Libido: Sexual energy that can manifest through different types of behaviors
• Fixation: The idea that part of a person's libido is stuck in a particular stage of
development through overindulgence or disruption
• Erogenous Zone: A part of the body that is sensitive to stimulation
The basis of Freud's theory suggests that a person's body has several erogenous
zones, believing a person's libido would grow over time and look for satisfaction
through different types of behaviors using these zones, such as thumb sucking or sex.
Depending on what happens in each stage, a person will quickly move from one stop to
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the next or develop fixations based on overindulging or disruption.
In addition to the five stages, Freud also explained conscious and unconscious
desires through the id, ego, and superego.
• Id: An instinctive aspect of our biology where the impulsive part of us has desires
and will do anything to fulfill them.
• Ego: A mediator between the id and the world. The ego uses reason to quell desires
and fit into society.
• Superego: The moral high ground, incorporating learned behaviors from caretakers 5 6
and societal norms. The superego balances the perfectionism of the ego and
harnesses the chaotic nature of the id.

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ORAL STAGE:
Age Range: Birth to 1 Year
Erogenous Zone: Mouth
• During the oral stage, the infant's primary source of interaction occurs 1 2
through the mouth, so the rooting and sucking reflex is especially
important. The mouth is vital for eating, and the infant derives pleasure
from oral stimulation through gratifying activities such as tasting and
sucking.
• Because the infant is entirely dependent upon caretakers (who are
responsible for feeding the child), the child also develops a sense of trust
and comfort through this oral stimulation. 3 4

• The primary conflict at this stage is the weaning process--the child must
become less dependent upon caretakers. If fixation occurs at this stage,
Freud believed the individual would have issues with dependency or
aggression. Oral fixation can result in problems with drinking, eating,
smoking, or nail-biting.

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ANAL STAGE:
Age Range: 1 to 3 years
Erogenous Zone: Bowel and Bladder Control
• During the anal stage, Freud believed that the primary focus of the libido 1 2
was on controlling bladder and bowel movements. The major conflict at
this stage is toilet training—the child has to learn to control their bodily
needs. Developing this control leads to a sense of accomplishment and
independence.
• According to Freud, success at this stage is dependent upon the way in
which parents ​approach toilet training. Parents who utilize praise and
rewards for using the toilet at the appropriate time encourage positive 3 4
outcomes and help children feel capable and productive.
• Freud believed that positive experiences during the toilet training stage
serve as the basis for people to become competent, productive, and creative
adults.

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PHALLIC STAGE:
Age Range: 3 to 6 Years
Erogenous Zone: Genitals
• Freud suggested that during the phallic stage, the primary focus of the 1 2
libido is on the genitals. At this age, children also begin to discover the
differences between males and females.​
• Freud also believed that boys begin to view their fathers as a rival for the
mother’s affection. The Oedipus complex describes these feelings of
wanting to possess the mother and the desire to replace the father. However,
the child also fears that he will be punished by the father for these feelings,
a fear Freud termed castration anxiety. 3 4

• The term Electra complex has been used to describe a similar set of feelings
experienced by young girls.

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LATENT PERIOD:
Age Range: 6 to Puberty
Erogenous Zone: Sexual Feelings Are Inactive
• During this stage, the superego continues to develop while the id's energies are 1 2
suppressed. Children develop social skills, values, and relationships with peers and
adults outside of the family.
• The development of the ego and superego contributes to this period of calm. The
stage begins around the time that children enter school and become more concerned
with peer relationships, hobbies, and other interests.
• The latent period is a time of exploration in which the sexual energy is repressed or
dormant. This energy is still present, but it is sublimated into other areas such as
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intellectual pursuits and social interactions. This stage is important in the
development of social and communication skills and self-confidence.
• As with the other psychosexual stages, Freud believed that it was possible for
children to become fixated or "stuck" in this phase. Fixation at this stage can result in
immaturity and an inability to form fulfilling relationships as an adult.

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GENITAL STAGE:
Age Range: Puberty to Death
Erogenous Zone: Maturing Sexual Interests
• The onset of puberty causes the libido to become active once again. During the final 1 2
stage of psychosexual development, the individual develops a strong sexual interest
in the opposite sex. This stage begins during puberty but last throughout the rest of a
person's life.
• Where in earlier stages the focus was solely on individual needs, 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.
• If the other stages have been completed successfully, the individual should now be
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well-balanced, warm, and caring.
• Unlike many of the earlier stages of development, Freud believed that the ego and
superego were fully formed and functioning at this point. Younger children are ruled
by the id, which demands immediate satisfaction of the most basic needs and wants.
• Teens in the genital stage of development are able to balance their most basic urges
against the need to conform to the demands of reality and social norms.

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 is best known for his famous theory
of psychosocial development and the
concept of the identity crisis. His
theories marked an important shift
in thinking on personality; instead of
focusing simply on early childhood
events, his psychosocial theory looks
at how social influences contribute
to our personalities throughout our Insert or Drag and Drop your Image
entire lifespans.
ERIK ERIKSON

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PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE
Erik Erikson was an ego psychologist who developed one of the most popular
and influential theories of development. While his theory was impacted by
psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's work, Erikson's theory centered on
psychosocial development rather than psychosexual development. 1 2

The stages that make up his theory are as follows:

• Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy from birth to 18 months)
• Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Toddler years from 18 months to three
years)
• Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool years from three to five)
• Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority (Middle school years from six to 11) 3 4

• Stage 5: Identity vs. Confusion (Teen years from 12 to 18)

• Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young adult years from 18 to 40)
• Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle age from 40 to 65)
• Stage 8: Integrity vs. Despair (Older adulthood from 65 to death)

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PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE

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PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE
Erik Erikson was an ego psychologist who developed one of the most popular
and influential theories of development. While his theory was impacted by
psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's work, Erikson's theory centered on
psychosocial development rather than psychosexual development. 1 2

The stages that make up his theory are as follows:

• Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy from birth to 18 months)
• Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Toddler years from 18 months to three
years)
• Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool years from three to five)
• Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority (Middle school years from six to 11) 3 4

• Stage 5: Identity vs. Confusion (Teen years from 12 to 18)

• Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young adult years from 18 to 40)
• Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle age from 40 to 65)
• Stage 8: Integrity vs. Despair (Older adulthood from 65 to death)

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PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE

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Thank
You!
Ms. Marivic E. Espaldon, LPT