How to Understand Freudian Developmental Theory

Dr. Sigmund Freud's developmental theory essentially holds that human beings go through a series of sexual phases in early childhood that determine the personality they will have as adults. According to Freud, we are all born as pleasure-seekers and each phase of development is based on our attempts to satisfy our desire for pleasure. What follows are simple steps you can take to help you acquire a better understanding of Freud's developmental theory.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Know the first phase of development is the oral stage. According to Freud, this stage occurs between birth and one year for the infant and focuses on the pleasures of the mouth. If a child is frustrated during this phase by having to wait for its pleasure, the child will grow up orally fixated on smoking, drinking or eating.
2. Understand that the next phase of development, according to Freud, is the anal stage. At this juncture (2 to 3 years of age), the child is approaching his first encounter with regulations when he has to learn the complex series of maneuvers involved in toilet training. If the child becomes fixated on this phase, he can grow up to be overly concerned with neatness, order and possession.
3. Comprehend that the next phase of development is the phallic stage. According to Freud, at this point (4 to 5 years old), the child must confront her desires for the opposite-sex parent and ultimately reconcile them by refocusing their love on the same-sex parent.
4. Be aware that the next stage is known as the latency phase. The latency period occurs between 7 and puberty, and during this period, no further sexual developments occur.
5. Apprehend that the genital phase is the last stage in development, according to Freud. From approximately age 14 onward, the teenager's genitals develop and their sexual desires become focused in these areas. They will undergo a period of anxiety as they try to deal with this newfound area of pleasure, but they will ultimately come to terms with it.