Psychoosexual Development Theory

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Sigmund Freud’s Psychosexual Development Theory (1905)
Freud’s theory of development was based on the assumption that development is influenced by sexual drives. Freud proposed his theory of psychosexual development in his paper “Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality” originally published in 1905 which was later translated to English in 1962. He theorized that from birth, humans have an instinctual sexual energy (i.e. libido) which is a significant component of personality development. Freud’s psychosexual development theory consists of five linear stages which spans across the entire lifespan. Each of these stages are characterized by a specific erogenous zone which is at the crux of the conflict of in the developmental stage (Freud, 1962). Freud (1962) believed that the erogenous zones involved in development are the mouth, the anus, and the genital region. The conflicts and behaviors in each of the psychosexual stages are closely associated with these erogenous areas. As Freud’s developmental theory is linear, a child is unable to progress to the next stage – i.e. unable to focus on the sexual energy associated with the primary erogenous zine of the next stage (Freud, 1962). The conflict central to the psychosexual stage must be resolved in order for an individual to move on to the following stage. According to Freud (1962), successful resolution of each of these stages involves expenditure of sexual energy. Freud (1962) theorized that the more energy used to overcome the conflict of a psychosexual stage leads to characteristics/ traits/ behaviors of that stage lasting through adulthood. He believed any lasting characteristics/ traits/ behaviors are what may underlie personality and psychopathology in adulthood (Freud, 1962)...

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...enerativity vs. stagnation, occurs in middle adulthood. According to Erikson (1950, individuals in this stage develop a sense of being a part of the society. Individuals who are capable of contributing to society may develop a sense of generativity (i.e. a sense of productivity and accomplishment). In contrast, Erikson (1950) believed that individuals who are unwilling to contribute to society may develop a sense of stagnation. The eighth and last stage, integrity vs. despair, occurs in late adulthood. According to Erikson (1950) the main task for this stage is retrospection – individuals contemplate their accomplishments. If individuals believe that have had a successful life they develop a sense of integrity. Individuals may be more likely to develop feelings of despair is their reflection of life is full of disappointments and unachieved goals (Erikson, 1950).

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