Sigmund Freud was a neurologist who explained the stages of development in terms of the human anatomy. The five stages begin at birth and go up until age 18. Each stage is described in relation to a specific body part that receives additional stimulation. The needs and demands of a child get met by the body part and this evolves as they age.
Oral Stage
The oral stage is the first stage of human development. The primary focus for a child's stimulation is through the mouth. It lasts from birth until 2 years old. Babies will put everything in their mouth in an attempt to learn about the world and how it functions. If a child becomes fixated in this stage and doesn't properly move forward in the next stage, signs of oral fixation will show during adulthood, such as overeating or smoking.
Anal Phase
The anal phase follows the oral phase and occurs from 2 to 4 years old. Children learn about their body more and begin to become more aware of their anatomy. This is the most common time period for potty training. The process produces children who are one of two types: anal retentive or anal expulsive. Anal retentive children refuse to go at all and as an adult, they may exhibit characteristics such being as anti-social, fussy and overly organized. An anal expulsive child will go anywhere that they please and as an adult they might be unorganized and not concerned about other people's feelings.
Phallic Stage
The first genital stage goes from 4 to 6 years. Children begin to become more aware of their genital organs and may touch them a bit more and even masturbate. They may receive shame from their parents if caught touching themselves, which can cause shame in adulthood. An Oedipus conflict is a young male's love for his mother. He gets aggravated that his father stands in the way and eventually begins to want to be like him as a way to replace his father in his mother's heart. The Electra complex is shown by little girls and stems from envy that they do not have a penis, while their father does. They eventually learn to identify with their mother. Someone who gets fixated in the phallic stage ends up being overly vain, reckless and self-assured as an adult.
Latency Period
The latency period follows the phallic stage, and no sexual development occurs during this stage. It goes from ages 6 to 12. During the latency period, sexual desires are repressed and children focus energy into activities such as same-sex friendships, school and sports.
Genital Phase
The last stage, which shows from ages 12 to 18, is the genital phase and surfaces when a child reaches puberty. Children reach sexual maturity and begin to focus on making heterosexual friendships and serious relationships. If a child is exposed to sexuality in a healthy manner, they will be more functional in adulthood.
Tags: adult they, anal expulsive, aware their, become more, become more aware, begin become, begin become more