Question 33

During the phallic stage of psychosexual development, a child adopts the attitudes and behaviors of the same-sex parent.

In the phallic stage, which occurs approximately between the ages of 3 and 6, children begin to identify with their same-sex parent, leading to the internalization of societal norms and values related to gender roles.

A) Oral

The oral stage, which occurs from birth to about 18 months, focuses on the infant's pleasure centers on the mouth. This stage is characterized by activities such as sucking and biting, and does not involve the adoption of behaviors from the same-sex parent.

B) Anal

The anal stage occurs between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, where the focus of pleasure is on controlling bladder and bowel movements. While this stage deals with issues of control and independence, it does not involve the identification with the same-sex parent.

C) Phallic

During the phallic stage, children start to identify with their same-sex parent, which is crucial for developing their gender identity and internalizing moral values. This identification process is a key aspect of Freud's theory and makes this option correct.

D) Latency

The latency stage occurs from ages 6 to puberty and is characterized by a period of relative calm in terms of psychosexual development. During this stage, sexual feelings are repressed, and children focus on developing social skills rather than adopting behaviors from their same-sex parent.

Conclusion

The phallic stage is distinctly important in Freud's theory as it is the stage where a child begins to adopt the attitudes and behaviors of the same-sex parent, leading to the development of gender identity. In contrast, the other stages (oral, anal, and latency) do not involve this critical identification process. Thus, the choice of the phallic stage as the correct answer is definitive, while the others fail to address this key aspect of psychosexual development.