Psychology MCAT Practice Exam

Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development outlines a sequence of stages through which a child's personality develops as they grow. This framework includes five distinct stages: the oral stage, anal stage, phallic stage, latency stage, and genital stage. Each stage is characterized by the erogenous zone that is the source of the child's psychosexual energy and involves various conflicts that must be resolved for healthy personality development.

During the oral stage, which occurs from birth to approximately 18 months, infants derive pleasure from oral activities such as sucking and biting. In the anal stage, lasting from about 18 months to 3 years, the focus shifts to bowel and bladder control, with potential conflicts arising from toilet training. The phallic stage, occurring from around age 3 to 6, centers around the exploration of the genitals and the complex feelings associated with this development, leading to the Oedipus and Electra complexes. The latency stage, spanning from approximately 6 years to puberty, involves a period of relative calm where sexual feelings are suppressed and social interactions become more significant. Finally, the genital stage begins in puberty and continues into adulthood, where mature sexual relationships and interests emerge.

The other options presented do not correspond to Freud's psych