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Related Concept Videos

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital01:23

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital

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The genital stage is the final phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, beginning at puberty, around age 12. During this stage, sexual energy shifts from self-focused interests to external individuals, marking the development of mature adult sexuality. Freud saw this phase as a time of sexual reawakening, with desires directed toward others outside the family. A healthy transition into this stage, according to Freud, signifies the emergence of two key aspects of adult...
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Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic01:12

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The third stage of psychosexual development proposed by Freud is the phallic stage, occurring between the ages of 3 and 6. During this period, children become aware of their bodies and the differences between males and females. The erogenous zone in this stage is the genitals, and conflicts arise as children develop desires toward the opposite-sex parent. Boys experience the Oedipus complex, where they desire their mother and view their father as a rival. This leads to castration anxiety, the...
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Structure of Self01:29

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Sigmund Freud's model of the human psyche is often illustrated using an iceberg analogy. The iceberg's visible tip represents the conscious mind, which includes thoughts and perceptions that individuals are immediately aware of. However, the larger, submerged portion of the iceberg represents the unconscious mind, a reservoir of repressed desires, instincts, and memories. According to Freud, human behavior is primarily shaped by this hidden realm.
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Psychosexual Theory of Development01:14

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Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
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Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Latency01:16

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Following the phallic stage in Freud's theory of psychosexual development, children enter a phase called the latency period, which lasts from approximately six to twelve years of age. Unlike earlier stages, where sexual impulses played a central role, Freud believed these impulses are repressed during the latency period, becoming part of the unconscious. This stage is often described as a time of psychological calm after the turbulence of the phallic stage.
The latency period is not...
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Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory01:29

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Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory revolutionized psychology by introducing the idea that unconscious forces significantly shape human behavior. According to Freud, every psychological event is driven by deep-seated internal forces, often formed during early childhood. His theory, built on the premises of psychic determinism, symbolic meaning, and unconscious motivation, offers a unique perspective on the complexities of human behavior.
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Desexualization: An interesting problem in The Ego and the Id.

Dominique Scarfone1

  • 1Université de Montréal, Société psychanalytique de Monttréal (Canadian Psychoanalytic Society), Montréal, Canada.

The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis
|December 21, 2023
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Freud introduced "desexualization" to reconcile life and death drives, but this concept created new problems. Ultimately, it led to a split within the ego itself.

Keywords:
Desexualizationdeath drivelibido

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Area of Science:

  • Psychoanalysis
  • Psychology
  • Philosophy of Mind

Background:

  • Sigmund Freud's theoretical framework.
  • The introduction of the death drive concept post-1920.
  • Challenges in reconciling psychic drives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the emergence and implications of "desexualization" in Freud's later work.
  • To examine how desexualization addressed theoretical problems.
  • To understand its impact on Freud's structural model of the psyche.

Main Methods:

  • Close reading of Freud's "The Ego and the Id".
  • Conceptual analysis of "desexualized libido".
  • Tracing the theoretical consequences of desexualization.

Main Results:

  • "Desexualization" emerged as a response to the life/death drive dichotomy.
  • Freud's explanation of desexualization was circular.
  • The concept necessitated a re-evaluation of the ego's structure.

Conclusions:

  • Desexualization, while intended to restore psychic fluidity, introduced complexity.
  • The concept ultimately contributed to Freud's theory of ego-splitting.
  • This highlights subtle yet significant shifts in Freudian metapsychology.