Freud's last stage of personality development from puberty onward, where sexual conflicts resurface and are often resolved during adolescence

Freud's last stage of personality development from puberty onward, where sexual conflicts resurface and are often resolved during adolescence

• A. Oral Stage
• B. Anal Stage
• C. Phallic Stage
• D. Genital Stage

Answer: (D)

In Freud's theory, the genital stage marks the final phase of psychosexual development, beginning at puberty and continuing into adulthood. During this stage, sexual energies reemerge and are redirected toward mature relationships and reproduction, with conflicts from earlier stages ideally being resolved through the ability to form intimate, adult partnerships. This focus on adult sexuality and functioning distinguishes it as the last stage. The other stages occur earlier in life and involve different focuses. The oral stage centers on feeding and pleasure from the mouth in infancy; the anal stage emphasizes control and independence around toilet training; the phallic stage involves early childhood exploration and the development of gender identity with the Oedipus/Electra complexes; and the latency period is a relatively quiet time with diminished sexual energy before puberty.

In Freud's theory, the genital stage marks the final phase of psychosexual development, beginning at puberty and continuing into adulthood. During this stage, sexual energies reemerge and are redirected toward mature relationships and reproduction, with conflicts from earlier stages ideally being resolved through the ability to form intimate, adult partnerships. This focus on adult sexuality and functioning distinguishes it as the last stage.

The other stages occur earlier in life and involve different focuses. The oral stage centers on feeding and pleasure from the mouth in infancy; the anal stage emphasizes control and independence around toilet training; the phallic stage involves early childhood exploration and the development of gender identity with the Oedipus/Electra complexes; and the latency period is a relatively quiet time with diminished sexual energy before puberty.