Topic > Psychological explanation of the concepts of the Oedipus and Electra complex

IndexPallic stage (3-6 years)The Oedipus complexThe Electra complexCase studyConclusionReferencesFreudian psychology, called this because of the large amount of work done by Sigmund Freud. He theorized that an individual's behavior is determined more by psychological factors than by biological or environmental factors. He argued that individuals are born with these basic needs and instincts which the unconscious mind acts on through the person's behavior. Much of his theory was that a person's personality was created through a series of stages commonly called psychosexual stages. He emphasized that these stages are a vital part in development as people need to be able to release their sexual energy (libido). Freud would argue that a person would experience tension due to the collection of this energy and that pleasure would arise from its release. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Phallic Phase (3-6 years) During the different phases the individual's energy would be expressed in numerous ways and through different parts of a person's body. For example, after the anal stage comes the phallic stage which occurs at the age of 3-6 years. The sexual energy is now focused on the child's genitals, this is where the Oedipus complex and the Electra complex come into play. The Oedipus Complex The Oedipus complex describes a child's feelings of sexual energy towards his parent of the opposite sex and of jealousy and anger towards his parent of the same sex. In essence, a male child will feel that he is competing with his father figure for his mother's property. Freud argues that the Oedipus complex was an important aspect within the phallic phase of psychosexual development. He theorized that a successful conclusion to this stage involved the boy in association with the father which would eventually lead to the child developing a mature sexual identity. Freud believed that the male child wishes to have his mother as his own and would in turn replace his father, whom he sees as competition for the mother's love. During this stage of psychosexual development, Freud theorized that the boy acquired a sexual attraction towards his mother and hostility towards his father. The Electra complexThe Electra complex is described when little girls feel desire for their father figure and hostility towards their mother. The term Electra complex was actually coined by Carl Jung to describe the way the Oedipus complex manifests itself in girls. Freud also believed that when girls discover that they do not possess a penis, they begin to experience penis envy and this causes them to resent their mother for "sending her into the world so inadequately equipped." Eventually, this resentment changes and allows the girl to connect with her mother and begin the process of internalizing her mother's attributes and characteristics. Case StudyThe Oedipus complex can be seen in the quest for Little Hans. Hans was a 5-year-old boy who was terrified of horses. When he was three years old, little Hans began to show an interest in "widdlers," including his own penis along with those of other males and even male animals. In retaliation, his mother told him she would cut off his penis if he didn't stop playing with it. This caused his phobia of horses to worsen, becoming so severe that he refused to leave the house if he encountered a horse. Freud believed that his phobia was actually related to large, gentle horses. Freud's analysis linked Hans' fear to the Oedipus complex, horses embodied]