Freud believed that children pass through five stages of development, known as the psychosexual stages because of Freud's emphasis on sexuality as the basic drive in development. These stages are:
Stage 1) Oral stage- This should be formed by the age of 0-1. Freud says that a child of this age begins to realise that the mouth is a centre of pleasure and this is learned through weaning. In this stage the I.D is the main part for the personality as the ego and the super ego are not fully developed. This is because a bay does not have a self-concept and everything they gain comes from what they receive form their parent.
Stage 2) Anal stage- This is formed between the ages of 1-3 years. The most major change at this stage is toilet training. The result of conflict can be gradual and no traumatic or pure intense this depends on how the parent/carer handles the situation.
Stage 3) Phillac stage- This is formed between the ages of 3-5 years. Just like older male boys of this age can have erections during their sleep. Many children of this age become more aware of the changes to their body and begin to ask questions about their body parts.
Stage 4) Latency stage- This occurs between 5 years of ages and puberty. The pleasure the individual receives through this stage is mainly contracted from secondary process thinking and energy is realised through new activities which normally involve school, hobbies and peers. Although they’re a number of problems that can occur during this stage too.
Stage 5) Genital stage- this stage lasts from puberty onwards. This stage involves a major part of the teenage life this is detachment from parents. During this stage energy is released through adult sexuality. This stage also allows the individual to develop relationships, love and in some cases families, and allows them to become independent and accept responsibility for their actions.
The main strength of the psychodynamic approach is that it can explain a wide variety of phenomenon. In fact some followers of the psychodynamic perspective believe that all human life can be explained from a psychodynamic approach.
"It is human to have a long childhood; it is civilized to have an even longer childhood. Long childhood makes a technical and mental virtuoso out of man, but it also leaves a life-long residue of emotional immaturity in him."
— Erik Homburger Erikson (1902-1994)
Erik Erikson’s ideas were greatly influenced by Freud, going along with Freud’s ideas about the structure and topography of personality but whereas Freud was an id psychologist, Erikson was an ego psychologist. He emphasised the role of culture and society and the conflicts that can take place within the ego itself, whereas Freud emphasised the conflict between the id and the superego.
At all psychosexual stages Erikson claimed that the individual develops on three levels simultaneously: Biological, Social and Psychological.
His model was a lifespan model of development, taking in 5 stages up to the age of 18 years and three further stages beyond, well into adulthood. Erikson suggests that there is still plenty of room for continued growth and development throughout one’s life.
What ego mechanism is Gerald using when he blames others for his own behaviour? Explain how an understanding of ego defence mechanisms can be applied to understanding Gerald’s behaviour.
Gerald is using the denial defence as a way of dealing with anxiety, he chooses not to believe what he is doing is wrong and blame other and carers for his own actions. He is also using displacement as if something doesn’t go right for him he trashes his bedroom which in the long run isn’t solving anything.
