Freud- Sigmund Freud formed a developmental theory known as the psychosexual development to describe how a human’s personality forms through childhood

Freud- Sigmund Freud formed a developmental theory known as the psychosexual development to describe how a human’s personality forms through childhood. This theory is considered more from the development of a man rather than a woman and that is one of the many reasons why it is criticised today. The theory is made up of 5 stages; the Oral Stage, the Anal Stage, the Phallic Stage, the Latent Period and the Genital Stage. Throughout his analysis Freud uses the development of personality in which the Id becomes focused on erogenous zones (Oral being the mouth, Anal being the Bowel and Bladder, Phallic being the genitals, latent looks at sexual feelings being inactive before the maturing sexual interests develop in the Genital Stage) or the libido as a driving force behind behaviour.
In the Oral Stage (experienced in the first year of a child’s life were the Id is the only part of personality present) the child’s primary source of contact happens through the mouth. The mouth is essential for eating and the baby develops pleasure from the oral stimulation through tasting and sucking. The child develops trust and comfort in their parent (the mother primarily) whom they are reliant on for feeding during this stage but as the parent attempts to wean the child from oral stimulation the may show resistance to this. This may be due to the child’s need for ongoing comfort and bounding with the parent as well as nutritional needs. Freud however in the psychosexual development theory claims that the child will become aggressive and in later life oral fixation can result in problems with drinking, eating and nail biting.
The Anal Stage (experienced during the age range of 1 years old to 3) is focused on bowel and bladder control. According to the theory success in this stage of life is at the mercy of the parents’ approach to training their toddler to use the toilet independently. Freud believed that positive experiences during toilet training such as praise and rewards for using the toilet served as a basis for a person to become a productive, competent and creative adult whilst inappropriate responses such as punishment or shaming children for accidents can result in a wasteful or destructive personality. This is known as an anal-expulsive personality. Freud also believed that if parents begin the training process too soon or are too strict through during the training the child will develop an anal-retentive personality meaning the child will develop into an orderly, obsessive personality.
During the Phallic Stage (ages between 3 and 6 years old), the libido becomes the primary focus of the child’s personality. Freud believed that during the Phallic Stage children develop an Oedipus (male) or Electra (female) complex. These complexes both describe the child’s feeling of jealous and want to replace the same gender parent as they feel they are competing for the affections of the opposite sex parent. By the end of this stage the child begins to identify with the same-sex parent as a means to vicariously possessing the other parent.
The latent period of the psychosexual theory is a period of exploration in which sexual energy is still present, but it is directed into other areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions. Freud’s theory implies this is like the calm before the storm as the Id’s energy becomes supressed and the Ego and Superego continues to form.
The final stage is the Genital stage that begins at puberty and lasts during the remainder of a person’s life. The beginning of puberty cause the libido to become active once again as developing person starts to notice their peers sexually. The first four stages solely focused on the needs of the individual but the Genital Stage sees a growing interest in the welfare of others. If the previous four stages have been completed successfully then the individual, in theory, should now be a well-balanced human being.