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Related Concept Videos

Psychosexual Theory of Development01:14

Psychosexual Theory of Development

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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.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's...
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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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Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships. 
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Dissociative Identity Disorder01:30

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Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously termed multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states. Each identity exhibits unique patterns of behavior, voice, and mannerisms and may possess separate memories and emotional responses. The alternating control between identities can result in memory gaps and challenges in recalling daily activities, often exacerbating the individual's...
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Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Latency01:16

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Latency

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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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Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic01:12

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic

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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2025

An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
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Incestuous Abuse Continuing into Adulthood: Clinical Features and Therapists' Conceptualisations.

Kate McMaugh1, Louise Roufeil2, Michael Salter3

  • 1Kate McMaugh Psychology Services, Balgowlah, Australia.

Journal of Trauma & Dissociation : the Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
|April 10, 2024
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Prolonged familial sexual abuse into adulthood is often overlooked. This study highlights the complex experiences of adult survivors and emphasizes the need for specialized, trauma-informed therapy.

Keywords:
Incestuous abuse in adulthoodtherapists’ conceptualizations

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Criminology
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Familial sexual abuse continuing into adulthood is under-researched and overlooked in policy and practice.
  • Clinical and criminological scholarship acknowledges prolonged incest, but it remains a marginalized topic.
  • This study addresses the gap in understanding adult survivors of ongoing incestuous abuse.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore Australian therapists' clinical experiences with clients subjected to prolonged incestuous abuse into adulthood.
  • To describe the nature of the abuse and factors contributing to its continuation.
  • To identify therapeutic approaches and areas for future research.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study involving interviews with ten Australian therapists.
  • Focus on therapists' descriptions of clinical cases involving adult survivors of prolonged incest.
  • Analysis of reported abuse characteristics and facilitating factors.

Main Results:

  • Clients were highly dissociative, with significant psychiatric, medical, and socio-economic comorbidities.
  • Abuse was often sadistic, ongoing, involved multiple perpetrators, and sometimes linked to organized abuse.
  • Facilitating factors included enmeshed/disorganized attachment, severe dissociation, maternal issues, and social isolation.

Conclusions:

  • Attachment, trauma, and dissociation-informed therapy is crucial for this cohort.
  • Further research is necessary to develop effective interventions for adult survivors of prolonged incest.
  • Addressing social isolation and complex trauma is vital for recovery.