Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Freud's psychosexual theory suggests that early childhood experiences play a significant role in shaping personality development. It emphasizes how individuals progress through stages where their focus is on different erogenous zones.
Related terms
Erogenous zones: Areas of the body that are particularly sensitive to sexual stimulation and pleasure.
An unresolved conflict or attachment at a particular stage of psychosexual development, leading to potential issues in adulthood.
Oedipus complex: A concept in psychoanalytic theory where young boys experience unconscious sexual desire for their mother and view their father as a rival.