Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal

Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development describes the anal stage as occurring between 18 months and three years of age. During this period, children derive pleasure from controlling and releasing their bowel movements. However, they quickly learn that societal expectations impose restrictions on when and where this can happen. This stage marks a critical point where children begin to develop a sense of control and mastery over their bodily functions, as well as their broader...

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic

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...

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Latency

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Latency

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 considered...

Psychosexual Theory of Development

Psychosexual Theory of Development

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 psychosexual...

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

The development of psychological disorders, which are characterized by deviant, maladaptive, and personally distressing behaviors, has been explored through several theoretical approaches.
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Multiple achalasia, vertebral defects and retarded growth.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

Same author

Emotional and Behavioural Disorders-II.

British medical journal·2010

Same author

Lymphocytic meningitis with lung involvement occurring in childhood.

Archives of disease in childhood·2010

Same author

Megalencephaly; a report of two cases.

Archives of disease in childhood·2010

Same author

Listening and talking to patients. V: Communicating with children.

British medical journal·1980

Same author

[Psychosomatic diagnosis: a practical beginning].

Padiatrie und Padologie·1980

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Psychosomatic disorders in childhood: Who? - When? - and How?

Paediatrician

|January 1, 1979

Summary

Psychosomatic disorders in children stem from biological factors and psychosocial stress. These common childhood conditions often involve family dynamics and may persist into adulthood.

Area of Science:

Pediatric medicine
Psychosomatic medicine
Child psychology

Background:

Psychosomatic disorders are frequent chronic or recurrent conditions in childhood.
These disorders often manifest within a family context, linked to disturbed relationships.
A significant number of children with psychosomatic disorders do not outgrow them.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the underlying causes of psychosomatic disorders in children.
To investigate the interplay between biological and psychosocial factors.
To understand the familial and relational contexts of these conditions.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on psychosomatic disorders in childhood.
Analysis of potential biological underpinnings, such as autonomic abnormalities.

More Related Videos

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

Examination of psychosocial stressors and family dynamics.

Main Results:

Psychosomatic disorders likely result from a combination of biological predisposition and psychosocial stress.
Family environment and disturbed personal relationships are significant contributing factors.
Biological abnormalities, potentially including autonomic dysfunction, may play a role.

Conclusions:

Psychosomatic disorders in children are multifactorial, involving both biological and psychosocial elements.
Interpersonal and familial factors are crucial in the development and maintenance of these disorders.
Further research into the chronology and biological basis of psychosomatic disorders is warranted.