Freud’s Psychosexual Stages & Ego Defense Mechanisms
Stages of Personality Development
Freud proposed that personality development progresses through several psychosexual stages. In each stage, libidinal energy focuses on a particular area. Successful progression leads to mature adult expression of this energy. However, excessive frustration or gratification can cause fixation, hindering adult development.
The Oral Stage
From birth to age two, libidinal energy centers on oral activities like feeding. Fixation can lead to high levels of oral activity in adulthood.
The Anal Stage
During toilet training, libidinal energy focuses on bowel control. Parental handling affects adult personality, potentially causing difficulties with love, approval, stubbornness, and cleanliness.
The Phallic Stage
Libidinal pleasure shifts to the genitals, involving exploration and interest in anatomical differences. Fixation can hinder adult sexuality and sensitivity. Freud also described the Oedipus (boys) and Electra (girls) complexes, where children develop sexual feelings for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent. Resolution involves identifying with the same-sex parent. Failure can lead to incomplete sexual identity, authority issues, or homosexuality.
The Latency Period
Around age five or six, sexual concerns diminish, and libidinal energy decreases significantly.
Adolescence and Adulthood
Puberty reignites libidinal energy, and the individual strives for adult sexuality. Early-stage difficulties can complicate mature love and relationships.
Ego Defense Mechanisms
Freud suggested that threats to the self-image produce anxiety. To minimize this, the ego employs defense mechanisms.
Repression
The most common defense mechanism, repression involves “forgetting” anxiety-producing memories or desires. Maintaining repression requires significant psychic energy, potentially leading to personality issues.
Rationalization
Explaining unacceptable actions with acceptable reasons.
Projection
Attributing one’s unacceptable feelings to others.
Displacement
Redirecting aggression towards an “innocent” target.
Regression
Reverting to a younger developmental stage to avoid responsibilities.
Compensation
Overemphasizing behaviors to mask perceived deficiencies. This can be direct (emphasizing behaviors related to the deficiency) or indirect (emphasizing unrelated behaviors).