Psychosexual Development

Psychosexual development is a theory proposed by Sigmund Freud, suggesting that human personality develops through a series of stages from childhood to adulthood. Each stage focuses on different erogenous zones—areas of heightened sensitivity linked to pleasure. The stages are oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. Freud believed that how individuals navigate these stages influences their adult personality and behaviors. Challenges or fixations during any stage could lead to specific psychological issues. Understanding this theory can offer insight into how early experiences shape emotional and relational patterns later in life.