Freud's Theory

Stage 4: Latency Stage

Stage 1: Oral Stage

Stage 2: Anal Stage

Stage 5: Genital Stage

Stage 3: Phallic Stage

Age Range: From birth to about 1 and 1/2 years old

Erogenous Zone: the Mouth

The infant uses its mouth to fulfill its libido by breastfeeding, and sucking and chewing on things. Freud believed this could lead to the person having an oral fixation later in life.

Erogenous Zone: the Anus

Age Range: 1 and 1/2 to 3 years old

The child is now using its anus to fulfill its demands. This is when they begin to gain control over their bowel movements. Freud believed that this was the child’s s first conflict with authority (potty training) and how the child handled it would predict their relationship with authority in the future.

Erogenous Zone: the genitals

Age Range: 3 to 6 years old

The child's pleasure now comes from the genitals and the child learns at this time the differences between the sexes. This creates the Oedipus complex and the Electra complex, it also causes feelings of jealousy and erotic attraction.

Erogenous Zone: none

Age Range: 6 to Puberty

The child represses its sexual interests and instead focuses on developing social and intellectual skills, hobbies and friendships.

Erogenous Zone: sexual awakening, source of pleasure comes from someone outside the family.

Age: Puberty until Death

The person now begins to experiment with other individuals regarding sexual pleasure and partakes in sex.