Chapter 2    Freud: Psychoanalysis43
fei75766_ch02_019-071.indd 43  02/19/20 08:59 AMInsummary, alldefense mechanisms protect theegoagainst anxiety. They are
universal inthateveryone engages indefensive behavior tosome degree. Each defense 
mechanism combines withrepression, andeachcanbecarried tothepoint ofpsycho -
pathology. Normally, however, defense mechanisms arebeneficial totheindividual 
andharmless tosociety. Inaddition, onedefense mechanism—sublimation—usually 
benefits boththeindividual andsociety.
Stages of Development
Although Freud hadlittlefirsthand experience withchildren (including hisown), his
developmental theory isalmost exclusively adiscussion ofearly childhood. ToFreud, 
thefirst4or5years oflife,ortheinfantile stage, arethemost crucial forpersonality 
formation. Thisstage isfollowed bya6-or7-year period oflatency during which little
ornosexual growth takes place. Then atpuberty, arenaissance ofsexual lifeoccurs, 
andthegenital stage isushered in.Psychosexual development eventually culminates 
inmaturity.
Infantile Period
OneofFreud’s (1905/1953b, 1923/1961b) most important assumptions isthat
infants possess asexual lifeandgothrough aperiod ofpregenital sexual development 
during thefirst4or5years afterbirth. AtthetimeFreud originally wrote about infan -
tilesexuality, theconcept, though notnew,wasmetwithsome resistance. Today, 
however, nearly allclose observers accept theideathatchildren show aninterest in
thegenitals, delight insexual pleasure, andmanifest sexual excitement. Childhood 
sexuality differs from adult sexuality inthatitisnotcapable ofreproduction andis
exclusively autoerotic. With bothchildren andadults, however, thesexual impulses 
canbesatisfied through organs other thanthegenitals. Themouth andtheanusare
particularly sensitive toerogenous stimulation (Freud, 1933/1964).
Freud (1917/1963) divided theinfantile stage intothree phases according to
which theprimary erogenous zones areundergoing themost salient development. 
Theoralphase begins firstandisfollowed inorder bytheanalphase andthephallic 
phase. Thethree infantile stages overlap withoneanother andeachcontinues after
theonset oflaterstages.
Oral Phase
Because themouth isthefirstorgan toprovide aninfant withpleasure, Freud’s first
infantile stage ofdevelopment istheoral phase. Infants obtain life-sustaining nourish -
ment through theoralcavity, butbeyond that,theyalsogainpleasure through theact
ofsucking.
Thesexual aimofearly oral activity istoincorporate orreceive intoone’s 
body theobject-choice, thatis,thenipple. During thisoral-receptive phase, infants 
feelnoambivalence toward thepleasurable object andtheir needs areusually sat-
isfied withaminimum offrustration andanxiety. Astheygrow older, however, 
theyaremore likely toexperience feelings offrustration andanxiety asaresult of
scheduled feedings, increased timelapses between feedings, andeventual weaning. Final PDF to printer