Chapter 2    Freud: Psychoanalysis51
fei75766_ch02_019-071.indd 51  02/19/20 08:59 AMperson instead oftoward themselves. Second, reproduction isnowpossible. Third, 
although penis envymaycontinue tolinger ingirls, thevagina finally obtains the
same status forthem thatthepenis hadforthem during infancy. Parallel tothis,boys
nowseethefemale organ asasought-after object rather thanasource oftrauma. 
Fourth, theentire sexual drive takes onamore complete organization, andthecom-
ponent drives thathadoperated somewhat independently during theearly infantile 
period gainakindofsynthesis during adolescence; thus, themouth, theanus, and
other pleasure-producing areas takeanauxiliary position tothegenitals, which now
attain supremacy asanerogenous zone.
Thissynthesis ofEros, theelevated status ofthevagina, thereproductive capac -
ityofthesexual drive, andtheability ofpeople todirect theirlibido outward rather 
thanontotheselfrepresent themajor distinctions between infantile andadult sexual -
ity.Inseveral other ways, however, Erosremains unchanged. Itmaycontinue tobe
repressed, sublimated, orexpressed inmasturbation orother sexual acts.Thesub-
ordinated erogenous zones alsocontinue asvehicles oferotic pleasure. Themouth, 
forexample, retains many ofitsinfantile activities; aperson maydiscontinue thumb 
sucking butmayaddsmoking orprolonged kissing.
Maturity
Thegenital period begins atpuberty andcontinues throughout theindividual’s life-
time. Itisastage attained byeveryone whoreaches physical maturity. Inaddition to
thegenital stage, Freud alluded tobutnever fullyconceptualized aperiod ofpsycho -
logical maturity, astage attained afteraperson haspassed through theearlier devel -
opmental periods inanideal manner. Unfortunately, psychological maturity seldom 
happens, because people havetoomany opportunities todevelop pathological disor -
dersorneurotic predispositions.
Although Freud never fullyconceptualized thenotion ofpsychological maturity, 
wecandraw asketch ofpsychoanalytically mature individuals. Such people would 
haveabalance among thestructures ofthemind, withtheiregocontrolling theirid
andsuperego butatthesame timeallowing forreasonable desires anddemands (see
Figure 2.3).Therefore, theiridimpulses would beexpressed honestly andconsciously 
withnotraces ofshame orguilt, andtheirsuperego would move beyond parental 
identification andcontrol withnoremnants ofantagonism orincest. Their ego-ideal 
would berealistic andcongruent withtheirego,andinfact,theboundary between 
theirsuperego andtheiregowould become nearly imperceptible.
Consciousness would playamore important roleinthebehavior ofmature 
people, whowould haveonlyaminimal need torepress sexual andaggressive urges. 
Indeed, most oftherepressions ofpsychologically healthy individuals would emerge 
intheform ofsublimations rather thanneurotic symptoms. Because theOedipus 
complex ofmature people iscompletely ornearly completely dissolved, their libido, 
which formerly wasdirected toward parents, would bereleased tosearch forboth
tender andsensual love. Inshort, psychologically mature people would come 
through theexperiences ofchildhood andadolescence incontrol oftheir psychic 
energy andwiththeir egofunctioning inthecenter ofanever-expanding world 
ofconsciousness.Final PDF to printer