The psychosexual theory was proposed by Sigmund Freud. This theory is based on psychosexual development. According to Freud, the development of personality is dependent on a series of childhood stages related to psychosexual theory. Freud’s psychosexual theory plays an important role in psychology.

The series of childhood stages are not skipped and each stage of sexual development is dependent on each other with follow serial order. According to Freud’s psychosexual theory, a child’s satisfied condition leads to a healthy personality and an unsatisfied condition leads to frustration and the experience of anxiety.

Stages of Psychosexual Theory

Five stages of psychosexual theory. They are oral stage, anal stage, phallic stage, latency stage, and genital stage.

Psychosexual theory’s stages with Erogenous Zone and Activities

1.  Oral Stage ( Birth- 1.5 years)

According to psychosexual theory, this stage is called the oral stage because of libido in the mouth. This stage occurs between birth to 1.5 years. In this stage, the erogenous zone is the mouth, and many activities done by infants. These activities are chewing gum, smoking, eating, kissing, and sucking (nipple, thumb, and each item also).In this stage, infant observes the each thing with the help of the mouth. According to Freud, oral stimulation is presented in later life- smoking, overeating, drinking, and nail-biting.

2.  Anal Stage ( 1.5 – 3 years)

This stage is the second stage of psychosexual theory. This stage occurs between 1.5 to 3 years. According to Freud’s psychosexual theory, in this stage, toilet training is the primary task. And now libido is focused on the anus. In this stage, the erogenous zone is the anus.

3.  Phallic Stage ( 3 – 6 years)

  This is the third stage of psychosexual theory and occurs between 3 to 6 years. Now libido is the center of phallic (penis) related to masturbation. This is a new source of pleasure for children. In the phallic stage, the erogenous zone is genital. According to Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual theory, girls developed penis envy and children discover sexual feelings. In this stage, a child develops a sexual attraction to the opposite sex. This process is called complex. In 1909, Freud offered the Little Hans case study as evidence of the Oedipus complex.

4.  Latency Stage ( 6 to Puberty)

In psychosexual theory, this stage occurs between school time and the child’s sexual feelings are repressed. The latency stage leads to children’s intellectual development, physical development, and social development. In this stage, boys play with boys, and girls play with girls. In the latency stage, the erogenous zone is dormant sexual feelings. Latent means hidden and mostly sexual impulses are repressed. Sexual energy can be transferred into schoolwork, hobbies, and friends circles.

5.  Genital Stage ( Puberty to Adult)

   This stage is the last stage of psychosexual development theory. According to Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual theory, children are developing a personality related to social and sexual behavior. In the genital stage, the sexual instinct is directed to heterosexual pleasure and the erogenous zone is maturing sexual interest. And adolescent develops a strong sexual interest.                Erogenous Zone = Maturing Sexual interest

Criticism of Freud’s Psychosexual Theory 

• • This theory is totally dependent on sexual and libido.
  • This theory is not presented with the help of empirical evidence.
  • In this theory, only one case study related to Little Hans, and explained that girls have penis envy.
  • Personality is dependent on stages of psychosexual theory.

See Also

Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory