Part II    Psychodynamic Theories48
fei75766_ch02_019-071.indd 48  02/19/20 08:59 AMintohostility when thegirlholds hermother responsible forbringing herintothe
world without apenis. Herlibido isthenturned toward herfather, whocansatisfy 
herwishforapenis bygiving herababy, anobject thattoherhasbecome asub-
stitute forthephallus. Thedesire forsexual intercourse withthefather andaccom -
panying feelings ofhostility forthemother areknown asthesimple female Oedipus 
complex. Incidentally, Freud (1920/1955b, 1931/1961) objected tothetermElectra 
complex, sometimes usedbyothers when referring tothefemale Oedipus complex, 
because itsuggests adirect parallel between male andfemale development during 
thephallic stage. Freud believed thatnosuchparallel exists andthatdifferences in
anatomy determine different courses inmale andfemale sexual development afterthe
phallic stage.
Notallgirls, however, transfer theirsexual interest ontotheirfather and
develop hostility toward theirmother. Freud (1931/1961, 1933/1964) suggested that
when pre-Oedipal girlsacknowledge theircastration andrecognize theirinferiority to
boys, theywillrebel inoneofthree ways. First, theymaygiveuptheirsexuality—both 
thefeminine andthemasculine dispositions—and develop anintense hostility toward 
theirmother; second, theymaycling defiantly totheirmasculinity, hoping forapenis 
andfantasizing being aman; andthird, theymaydevelop normally: thatis,theymay
taketheirfather asasexual choice andundergo thesimple Oedipus complex. Agirl’s 
choice isinfluenced inpartbyherinherent bisexuality andthedegree ofmasculinity 
shedeveloped during thepre-Oedipal period.
Thesimple female Oedipus complex isresolved when agirlgives upmastur -
batory activity, surrenders hersexual desire forherfather, andidentifies once again 
withhermother. However, thefemale Oedipus complex isusually broken upmore 
slowly andlesscompletely thanisthemale’s. Because thesuperego isbuiltfrom the
relics oftheshattered Oedipus complex, Freud (1924/1961, 1933/1964) believed 
thatthegirl’s superego isusually weaker, more flexible, andlesssevere thanthe
boy’s. Thereason thegirl’s superego isnotasstrict astheboy’s istraceable tothe
difference between thesexes during their Oedipal histories. Forboys, castration 
anxiety follows theOedipus complex, breaks itupnearly completely, andrenders 
unnecessary thecontinued expenditure ofpsychic energy onitsremnants. Once the
Oedipus complex isshattered, energy usedtomaintain itisfreetoestablish asuper -
ego.Forgirls, however, theOedipus complex follows thecastration complex (penis 
envy), andbecause girlsdonotexperience athreat ofcastration, theyexperience no
traumatic sudden shock. Thefemale Oedipus complex isonlyincompletely resolved 
bythegirl’s gradual realization thatshemaylosetheloveofhermother andthat
sexual intercourse withherfather isnotforthcoming. Herlibido thusremains par-
tially expended tomaintain thecastration complex anditsrelics, thereby block -
ingsome psychic energy thatmight otherwise beusedtobuild astrong superego 
(Freud, 1931/1961).
Insummary, thefemale andmale phallic stages takequite different routes. 
First, thecastration complex forgirlstakes theform ofpenis envy—not castration 
anxiety. Second, penis envyprecedes thefemale Oedipus complex, whereas for
boystheopposite istrue;thatis,thecastration anxiety follows themale Oedipus 
complex. Third, because penis envytakes place prior tothefemale Oedipus com-
plex, littlegirlsdonotexperience atraumatic event comparable toboys’ castration Final PDF to printer