Freudian psychoanalysis is based on two key premises. The first premise - the genetic one - is that those experiences that the child experiences in childhood have a huge impact on personality formation in adulthood. The essence of the second premise is that a person initially has a certain amount of sexual energy - libido. It is libido that, when a person develops, passes through several stages, representing a close interconnection of instincts, psychology and sexual activity.
The hypothesis of the four stages of human development was called Freud’s Theory of Personality and is of great scientific and practical interest to psychologists and doctors. According to Freud, the development of a person’s personality takes place over 4 stages, each of which is discussed below.
Stage 1. The oral phase.
In the oral phase, an infant stays between the ages of birth and one year old. During this period, the child is completely dependent on the mother, and feeding is the main source of pleasure. Freud’s personality theory emphasizes that in this phase the child has only one desire - the absorption of food, and therefore the main erogenous zone is the mouth, because it is a means of nutrition and an initial examination of the surrounding objects.
Stage 2. Anal phase.
The next stage of personality development is the anal, which in duration includes the age of the child from 12-18 months to the third year of life. Freud’s personality theory claims that during this period the child begins to learn to control the physiological functions of his body. At this time, the libido concentrates around the anus, which is now the subject of attention of the child.
Children's sexuality now finds its satisfaction in the possession of control over the functions of his body (first of all, over defecation and excretion). It is important to note that according to Freud, it is during this period that the child is faced with the first prohibitions. The outside world is now for him a high barrier. Development at this stage takes on the character of conflict.
Stage 3. Phallic phase.
A new erogenous zone appears in a child aged three to six years. Now libido is concentrated in the genital area. At this stage, children begin to understand and become aware of sexual differences. The child notices either the presence of a penis or the absence thereof.
According to Freud, at this stage the child already feels the pleasure of stimulating the genitals, however, such arousal is associated with the close presence of the parents.
Stage 4. Latent period.
This period is characterized by the concession of sexual manifestations to curiosity, which is associated with the diversity of the world around the child. The latent period coincides with the age of 5-12 years. Sexual activity in this period is reduced, libido is inconsistent, the child is trying to identify his own "I".
Freud’s personality theory indicates that sexual impulses in a given period are suppressed by ideals of aesthetics, as well as morality, shame, and disgust. At this age, personality development occurs in the totality of biological processes, as well as under the influence of culture and education.
Stage 5. The genital phase.
The transition to the last phase of personality development is accompanied by a transition in the concentration of sexual desire, arousal and satisfaction to the genital area. Genital masturbation at this period is of key importance in satisfying sexual needs.
In conclusion, we note that Freud’s personality theory served as the basis for formulating the foundations of the genesis of the psyche of children: child development corresponds in stages to the movement of libido zones.