Final answer:
Freud's psychosexual stages are the oral, anus,phallic, latency, and genital stages. They represent different periods of a child's development, marked by focus on various erogenous zones, that shape their adult personality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The psychosexual stages of development, according to Sigmund Freud, consist of five distinct phases. During each stage, the child's pleasure-seeking urges, stemming from the id, concentrate on a particular erogenous zone of the body. The stages must be resolved successfully for a person to become a balanced, healthy adult. Any fixation at a stage due to inadequate resolution can lead to certain personality traits characteristic of that stage.
- Oral Stage (birth to 1 year): Focus is on oral pleasures such as sucking and eating. Fixations can result in habits like smoking or overeating.
- Anus Stage (1-3 years): Pleasure centers around bowel and bladder control. Fixations may lead to perfectionism or messiness.
- Phallic Stage (3-6 years): Attention turns to the genitals, and the Oedipus/Electra complex may develop. Unresolved issues can result in vanity or over-ambition.
- Latency Period (6 years to puberty): This isn't a stage but a period where sexual feelings are dormant, focusing attention on school, hobbies, and friendships instead.
- Genital Stage (puberty onwards): Sexual interests mature, with a focus on adult sexual relationships. A well-resolved individual at this stage is considered well-adjusted.