Which stage is the fourth psychosexual stage, focusing on intellectual, creative, interpersonal, and athletic development?

Which stage is the fourth psychosexual stage, focusing on intellectual, creative, interpersonal, and athletic development?

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

Answer: (C)

In Freud's psychosexual theory, the fourth stage is latency. This period marks a shift where sexual energy is sublimated into nonsexual pursuits, so children focus on intellectual, creative, interpersonal, and athletic development. Typically arriving around age 6 to puberty, it’s a time when learning, friendships, sports, hobbies, and cultural interests become the main outlets for energy, helping build skills and social bonds before puberty reawakens sexual motivation in the genital stage. The earlier stages center on satisfaction from the mouth (oral) and bowel/bladder control (anal), and the third stage (phallic) involves exploration of genitals and identification with the same-sex parent; the genital stage later returns to mature sexual relations.

In Freud's psychosexual theory, the fourth stage is latency. This period marks a shift where sexual energy is sublimated into nonsexual pursuits, so children focus on intellectual, creative, interpersonal, and athletic development. Typically arriving around age 6 to puberty, it’s a time when learning, friendships, sports, hobbies, and cultural interests become the main outlets for energy, helping build skills and social bonds before puberty reawakens sexual motivation in the genital stage. The earlier stages center on satisfaction from the mouth (oral) and bowel/bladder control (anal), and the third stage (phallic) involves exploration of genitals and identification with the same-sex parent; the genital stage later returns to mature sexual relations.