Psychosexual Stages

Freud’s five stages of personality development, each associated with a particular erogenous zone

Fixation - an attempt to achieve pleasure as an adult in ways that are equivalent to how it way achieved in these stages

Oral Stage (birth - 1 year)

1)   Mouth is associated with sexual pleasure

2)   Weaning a child can lead to fixation if not handled correctly

3)   Fixation can lead to oral activities in adulthood

Anal Stage (1 - 3 years)

1)   Anus is associated with pleasure

2)   Toilet training can lead to fixation if not handled correctly

3)   Fixation can lead to anal retentive or expulsive behaviors in adulthood

Phallic Stage (3 - 5 years)

1)   Focus of pleasure shifts to the genitals

2)   Oedipus or Electra complex can occur

3)   Fixation can lead to excessive masculinity in males and the need for attention or domination in females

Latency Stage (5 - puberty)

1)   Sexuality is repressed

2)   Children participate in hobbies, school and same-sex friendships

Genital Stage (puberty on)

1)   Sexual feelings re-emerge and are oriented toward others

2)  Healthy adults find pleasure in love and work, fixated adults have their energy tied up in earlier stages