LESSON 5

Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

OVERVIEW
Freud’s view on human development are more than century old. He can be
considered as the most well-known psychologist because of his very interesting theory
about the unconscious and also about sexual development. Although a lot of his views
were criticized and some considered them debunked. Freud’s theory remails to be one of
the most influential in psychology. His theory sparked the ideas in the brilliant minds of
other theorists and thus became the starting point of many other theories.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module, the students shall be able to:
• Explain Freud’s views about child and adolescent development
• Draw implications of Freud’s theory to education

GLOSSARY
The following terms are used in this module and defined as:
Human development is the pattern of movement or change that begins at
conception and continues through the life span.

MY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Recall a recent incident in your life when you had to make a decision. Narrate the
situation (in a bond paper). Indicate what the decision was about, the factors that were
involved and how you arrived at your decision. (Output #10)

LEARNING PLAN (The Module Proper)

As a person grows, the personality is also formed. Many psychologists present
different views about how personality develops. As mentioned, Freud present a very
interesting theory about personality, its components and development. Read on and
hopefully, it will somehow lead you to understand more of your own personality.
As you read through Freud’s theory, fill out the graphic organizer below to highlight
the important concepts: (Output #11)
Erogenous zone. A specific area that becomes the focus of pleasure needs. This
may be the mouth, nus and the genitals.
Fixation. Result from failure to satisfy the needs of a particular psychosexual stage.
 • Ergenous Zone _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________
• Description of the Stage ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________
• _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oral Stage • Fixations _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Ergenous Zone _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________

• Description of the Stage ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________
• _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Fixations _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Ergenous Zone _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________

• Description of the Stage ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________
• _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Anal Stage • Fixations _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Ergenous Zone _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________

• Description of the Stage ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________
• _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phalic • Fixations _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stage

• Ergenous Zone ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Description of the Stage ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________
• _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Genital • Fixations _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stage

FREUD STAGES OF PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

Freud is the most popular psychologist that studied the development of personality,
also probably the most controversial. For Freud, a person goes through the sequence of
these five stages and along the way there are needs to be met. Whether these needs are
met or not, determines whether the person will develop a healthy personality or not. The
theory is quite interesting for many because Freud identified specific “erogenous zones
for each stage of development. These are specific ‘pleasure areas’ that become focal
points for the particular stage. It needs are not met long the areas; a fixation occurs. As
an adult, the person will now manifest behaviors related to this erogenous zone.
Oral stage. (birth to 18-months) The erogenous zone is the mouth. During this
stage, the child is focused on the oral pleasures. The type of personality being develop in
this stage is oral receptive, that is, have a stronger tendency to smoke, drink alcohol, or
oral aggressive, that is, with a tendency to bite or use curse words or even gossips. On
the other hand, they may also fight these tendencies and become pessimistic and
aggressive in relating to/with other people.
Anal stage. (19 months to 3 years) The child’s focus of pleasure in this stage is the
anus. The child finds satisfaction in eliminating and retaining feces. Let us remember that
between one year and a half to three years, the child’s favorite words might be “NO!”.
Therefore, a Strule might exist in the toilet training process when the child retains feces
when asked to eliminate, or may choose to defecate when asked to hold feces for some
reasons. In terms of personality, fixation during this stage can result in being anal
retentive, an obsession with cleanliness, perfection, and control; or anal expulsive
where the person may become messy and disorganized.
 Phallic stage. (ages 4 to 6) The pleasure or erogenous zone is the genitals. During
the preschool are, children become interested in what makes boys and girls different.
Preschoolers will sometimes be fondling their genitals. Freud’s studies led him to believe
that during this stage boys develop unconscious sexual desire for their mother. Boys then
see their father as a rival for her mother’s affection. Boys may fear that their father will
punish them for these feelings, thus, the castration anxiety. These feelings comprise what
Freud called Oedipus Complex.
Psychoanalysis also believed that girls may also have a similar experience,
developing unconscious sexual attraction towards their father. This is what is referred to
as the Electra Complex.
Latency stage. Ages 6 to puberty) It’s during this stage that sexual urges remain
repressed. The children’s focus is the acquisition of physical and academic skills. Boys
usually relate more with boys and girls with girls this stage.
Genital stage. (puberty to onwards) The firth stage of psychosexual development
begins at the start of puberty when sexual urges are once again awakened. In the earlier
stages, adolescents focus their sexual urges towards the opposite sex peers, with the
pleasure centered on the genitals.

FREUD’S PERSONALITY COMPONENTS

Freud described the personality structures as having three components, the ID,
the EGO, and the SUPEREGO. For each person, the first to emerge is the ID, followed
by EGO, and last to develop is the SUPEREGO.
The ID. Freud says that, a child is born with the ID. The ID plays a vital role in one’s
personality because as baby, it works so that the baby’s essential needs are met. The ID
operates on the pleasure principle. It focuses on immediate gratification or satisfaction of
its needs. So, whatever feels good now is what it will pursue with no consideration for the
reality, logically or practicality of the situation. Nothing else mater to the ID except
satisfaction of its own needs. It is not oriented towards considering reality not the needs
of others.
The EGO. As the baby turns into a toddler and then into a preschooler, he/she
relates more with the environment, the EGO slowly begins to emerge. He EGO operates
using the reality principle. It is aware that others have also needs to be met. It practical to
know, because it later, so its reasons and considers the best response to situations. As
such, it is the deciding agent of the personality. Although it functions to help ID meet its
needs, it always takes into account the reality of the situation.
The SUPEREGO. Near the end if the preschool years, or the end of the phallic
stage, the SUPEREGO develops. The SUPEREGO embodies a person’s moral aspect.
This develops from what the parents, teachers and other persons who exert influence
impart to be good or moral. The SUPEREGO is linked to conscience because it exerts
influence on what one considers right and wrong.
The topographical model
The Unconscious. Freud said that most what we go through in our lives, emotions,
beliefs feelings and impulses deep within are not available to at a conscious level. He
believed that most of what influence us is our unconscious. The Oedipus and Electra
complex mentioned earlier were both buried down in to unconscious, out of our
awareness due to the extreme anxiety they caused.
The Conscious. Freud also said that all what we are aware of is stored in our
conscious mind. Our conscious mind only comprises a very small part of who we are so
that, in our everyday life, we are only aware of a very small part of what makes up our
personality; most of what we are is hidden and out of reach.
The Subconscious. The last part of the preconscious or subconscious. This is the
part of us that we can reach if prompted, but is mot in our active conscious. Its right below
the surface, but still ‘hidden’ somewhat unless we search for it. Information such as our
cellphone number, some childhood memories or the name of your best childhood friend
is stored in the preconscious.

LET’S SUM UP!

The ability of a learner to be well-adjusted is largely influenced by how the learner
was brought up. His experiences about how his parents met his needs, the extent to which
he was allowed to do the things he wanted to do, and also how he was taught about right
and wrong, all figures to the type of personality and consequent adjustment that a person
will make. Freud believe that the personality of an individual is formed early during the
childhood years.

Learning Task (Output # 12)

Reflection. From the module, write a brief reflection on Freud’s theories. Choose
only one of his theories that affects you the most.
 Rubrics
SENSITIVITY CHECK AND TRY THIS! (MY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE)

PARTICULARS POINTS
Content (Relevance to the Topic discussed) 5
Presentation of Ideas 5
Organization of thoughts 5
Grammar 5
Total 20

CHALLENGE YOUR SELF (OUTPUT)

PARTICULARS POINTS
Full knowledge 10
Accuracy of Answers 10
Organization of thoughts 15
Grammar 15
Total 50