Chapter 2    Freud: Psychoanalysis49
fei75766_ch02_019-071.indd 49  02/19/20 08:59 AManxiety. Fourth, because girlsdonotexperience thistraumatic event, thefemale 
Oedipus complex ismore slowly andlesscompletely dissolved thanthemale Oedi -
puscomplex.
Thesimple male andfemale Oedipus complexes aresummarized inTable 2.1.
Freud presented hisviews onthefemale Oedipus complex more tentatively 
thanhedidhisideas regarding themale phallic stage. Although heframed these 
views onfemininity inatentative andprovisional manner, hesoon began tovigor -
ously defend them. When some ofhisfollowers objected tohisharsh viewofwomen, 
Freud became evenmore adamant inhisposition andinsisted thatpsychological 
differences between menandwomen could notbeerased byculture because they
weretheinevitable consequences ofanatomical differences between thesexes (Freud, 
1925/1961). Thisrigidpublic stance onfeminine development hasledsome writers 
(Brannon, 2005; Breger, 2000; Chodorow, 1989, 1991, 1994; Irigaray, 1986; Krausz, 
1994) tocriticize himasbeing sexist anduncomplimentary towomen.
Despite hissteadfast public position, Freud privately wasuncertain thathis
views onwomen represented afinalanswer. Oneyearafterhispronouncement that
“anatomy isdestiny,” heexpressed some doubts, admitting thathisunderstanding of
girlsandwomen wasincomplete. “Weknow lessabout thesexual lifeoflittlegirls
thanofboys. Butweneed notfeelashamed ofthisdistinction; afterall,thesexual life
ofadult women isa‘dark continent’ forpsychology” (Freud, 1926/1959b, p.212).
Throughout hiscareer, Freud often proposed theories without much clinical 
orexperimental evidence tosupport them. Hewould latercome toseemost ofthese 
theories asestablished facts, eventhough hepossessed nointervening substantiat -
ingevidence. Foraslongashelived, however, heremained doubtful oftheabsolute 
validity ofhistheories onwomen. Freud once admitted tohisfriend Marie Bonaparte 
thathedidnotunderstand women: “The great question thathasnever been answered 
andwhich Ihavenotyetbeen abletoanswer, despite mythirty years ofresearch intoTABLE 2.1
Parallel Paths of the Simple Male and Female Phallic Phases
Male Phallic Phase
 1. Oedipus complex (sexual desires for
themother/hostility forthefather)
 2. Castration complex intheform 
ofcastration anxiety shatters the
Oedipus complex
 3. Identification withthefather
 4. Strong superego replaces thenearly 
completely dissolved Oedipus 
complexFemale Phallic Phase
 1. Castration complex intheform of
penis envy
 2. Oedipus complex develops asan
attempt toobtain apenis (sexual 
desires forthefather; hostility forthe
mother)
 3. Gradual realization thattheOedipal 
desires areself-defeating
 4. Identification withthemother
 5. Weak superego replaces thepartially 
dissolved Oedipus complexFinal PDF to printer