Which of the following stages of psychosexual development is commonly characterised by the Oedipus complex?

DSSSB 14 August 2024

Applied Psychology

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB 14 August 2024

Explanation

The Phallic stage, occurring from ages 3 to 6, is characterized by the child's focus of pleasure shifting to the genitals.
During this stage, boys experience the Oedipus complex, which involves an unconscious desire for their mother and a sense of rivalry with their father.
Similarly, girls may experience the Electra complex, involving a desire for their father and rivalry with their mother.
Resolution of this complex involves the child identifying with the same-sex parent, which is crucial for the development of the superego and gender identity.

Option B: The Genital stage begins at puberty. Its focus is on the maturation of sexual interests and the formation of adult relationships outside the family, not the initial Oedipal conflict.
Option C: The Anal stage (18 months to 3 years) centers on pleasure derived from bowel and bladder control. The primary conflict is related to toilet training.
Option D: The Oral stage (birth to 18 months) is focused on pleasure derived from the mouth, such as sucking and feeding. The primary conflict relates to weaning.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Freud's Stages of Psychosexual Development as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding psychosexual stages can provide nurses with a framework for interpreting patient behaviors that may stem from unresolved childhood conflicts (fixations). For example, an adult patient who smokes excessively or is overly dependent may have an oral fixation.
This knowledge helps in therapeutic communication, allowing the nurse to understand the potential unconscious motivations behind a patient's anxiety or defense mechanisms.
What if? If a pediatric patient (age 4) in the hospital shows intense attachment to their mother and hostility towards their father, a nurse aware of the Phallic stage can recognize this as potentially normal developmental behavior (Oedipus complex) rather than just a behavioral problem, guiding a more empathetic and supportive approach with the family.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'psychosexual development' and 'Oedipus complex'. This immediately points to Sigmund Freud's theories.
Recall the five stages of Freud's psychosexual development: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital.
Associate the key event, the Oedipus complex, with its corresponding stage.
Systematically review the options provided and match the Oedipus complex to the Phallic stage.
Eliminate the other stages by recalling their primary focus: Oral (mouth/feeding), Anal (bowel control), and Genital (mature adult relationships).

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