Freud’s psychosexual development phases include are five in number with each of the stages having a particular erogenous region.
Oral- this stage occurs between the period from birth to the first birthday. The erogenous region is the mouth and getting stuck in this stage means the individual will result in an immature, gullible and passive personality that is manipulative in nature (Furnham, 2015).
Anal- between the first and the third birthday the bladder and bowel become the erogenous zones. It is at this phase that the ego of the child is developing and toilet training is the major experience for the child (Freud, 2010). Getting stuck in this stage the child might become obsessively neat and organized or the extreme opposite; defiant, reckless and disorganized.
Phallic- Occurs between the years 3-6. The primary erogenous region is the genitalia. Children now become aware of their bodies and the bodies of others. The children undress and explore each other as they try to understand the difference between the female and the male gender. Getting stuck in this place would result in the development of the Oedipus complex.
Latency- at this stage the child now experiences sexual feelings but they are often dormant. The stage is relatively longer than the other previous stages and spans several years form the 6th birthday to puberty. Stagnating in this phase could lead to sexual the lack of sexual fulfillment since the child will not have developed their sexual identity.
Genital- this phase spans from puberty to death, basically throughout the adult life. Beginning from puberty the sexual desires mature and acts as a psychological independence and detachment from the parents. In this phase the individual might seek to resolve the psychological childhood conflicts (McLeod, 2008). Getting stuck in this phase might result in getting stuck in the phase, impotence and frigidity. The erogenous zone is the genitalia.
References
Freud, S. (2010). The Ego and the Id. Charleston: Createspace.
Furnham, A. (2015). Psychosexual Stages: Freud’s Theory. Retrieved 1st July 2016 from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sideways-view/201509/psychosexual-stages-freud-s-theory
McLeod, S. A. (2008). Psychosexual Stages. Retrieved 1st July 2016 from www.simplypsychology.org/psychosexual.html
