Final answer:
The Latency Stage of Psychodynamic Theory is characterized by an age range of 6 years to puberty, during which sexual feelings are dormant and children engage in non-sexual pursuits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The age that characterizes the Latency Stage of Psychodynamic Theory ranges from 6 years to puberty. During this stage, psychosexual development hits a phase where sexual feelings are dormant. It is a time when children predominantly invest their energy into activities like school, friendships, hobbies, and sports, often engaging with same-sex peers. This engagement is a crucial part of consolidating one's gender-role identity.
The Latency Stage follows the phallic stage in Sigmund Freud's sequence of psychosexual development stages, coming before the genital stage, which begins at puberty. The genital stage marks a period of sexual reawakening where the once dormant sexual feelings resurface. Successfully navigating through these stages without fixations is said to result in a well-balanced and healthy adult.
Summary of the Psychosexual Stages
- Oral Stage
- An_al Stage
- Phallic Stage
- Latency Stage (6 years to puberty)
- Genital Stage (from puberty onwards)
- Understanding these stages helps illuminate the locus of control or beliefs an individual has about the outcomes of their lives, whether these are within their own control or influenced by external factors.