Freud's Oedipus Complex

Definition

The Oedipus complex is a psychoanalytic theory proposed by Sigmund Freud. It suggests that during the phallic stage of psychosexual development, children experience unconscious sexual desires for their opposite-sex parent and develop rivalry with the same-sex parent.

Related terms

Phallic Stage:

This is the third stage in Freud's psychosexual development theory where children become aware of their own gender identity and develop attraction towards the opposite-sex parent.

Unconscious:

It refers to thoughts, feelings, or desires that are hidden from conscious awareness but can still influence our behavior.

Psychoanalytic Theory:

This is Freud's approach to understanding personality and human behavior, which emphasizes unconscious processes and early childhood experiences as determinants of behavior.