Sigmund Freud Theory, Levels of Consciousness & Stages of Development
Sigmund Freud Theory: A Brief Overview
Sigmund Freud (1856—1939) was a famous psychologist, influencer, thinker, and physiologist of the early 20th century. He is recognized as the father of psychoanalysis because of his work on human problems. Freud developed Psychoanalytic Theory and proposed solutions of these problems. He has focused on the role of human thoughts and unconscious memories in influencing human behavior. Psychoanalytic Theory describes a therapeutic process to treat mental illnesses by examining the interaction between conscious and unconscious factors.
Sigmund Freud Psychoanalytic Theory
Sigmund Freud Psychoanalytic Theory states the importance of childhood experiences because these events significantly influence adult life and shape our personality. During psychosexual development, human personality is shaped by the effects of conflicts that occur in childhood. Thus, adult personality is the reflection of childhood experiences. Events that occur in childhood remain in the human unconscious mind and cause mental illnesses and other psychological problems depending on the severity of the event.
Psychoanalysis therapy helps release suppressed emotions. Freud believed in the concept that people can be healed by changing their thoughts from unconscious to conscious. Psychoanalysis therapy is a useful tool to treat anxiety and depression disorders.
Levels of Consciousness
In order to elaborate the concept of conscious and unconscious, Freud explains it by comparing the mind to an iceberg. Freud says that the 10th part of our mind is conscious, and the remaining part is unconscious. In fact, consciousness is the wakefulness of the self and is the human awareness of both external and internal stimuli. Freud has classified human consciousness into three stages: conscious, pre-conscious, and unconscious. The preconscious part contains the things we can focus on through conscious attention.
This part is a storehouse of memories that we can retrieve. These thoughts are available for recall and can become easily conscious. On the other hand, the unconscious part refers to the mental activity that we have no access to. According to the Freudian concept, our unacceptable desires are retained in the unconscious part. For example, sometimes, we say things that we do not intend to say. Speech errors and slip of the tongue occur because of unconscious desires.
The Unconscious Mind
Freud developed a model of the human mind describing its structure and specific function. His explanation of the unconscious mind helps us understand the psychological effects. To understand the unconscious mind, we need to focus on the conscious part of our brain. Consciousness consists of thoughts that we focus on to carry out our present activities.
Our brain stores information in its memory part, which we can retrieve from our memory. The Psychodynamic Theory explains the unconscious part of the human mind as inaccessible and contains information we are unaware of. Thus, our thoughts, feelings, and memories are hidden from this part of the mind. According to Freud, the unconscious mind forms our behavior, so it is the basic source for determining human behavior. Therefore, the past experiences and events stored in the unconscious mind have a great influence on the decisions we make.
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Freud proposed three interacting systems present in our minds. These systems are the id, ego, and the superego. The ego or self makes a balance between the aggressive and self-satisfying drives of the id using the regulating power of the superego.
The Id
The id is an unconscious part that contains our old drives present from birth time. The Id directs our urges for thirst, hunger, and sex. Freud thought that the id seeks pleasure and immediate satisfaction. Freud’s idea of the id tells why people behave in specific ways. The id as a part of the mind contains human natural instincts.
The Ego and Superego
Freud believed that human personality is developed during the early period of childhood. Thus, childhood experiences have a great impact on the personality of children and shape their behavior as adults. The Psychodynamic Theory of Sigmund Freud has five psychosexual stages. These stages include the oral stage, the anal stage, the phallic stage, the latent stage, and the genital stage. The superego develops when a child reaches age four or five. At this age, the child learns the morals and social norms.
Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud believed that human personality is developed during the early period of childhood. Thus, childhood experiences have a great impact on the personality of children and shape their behavior as adults. The Psychodynamic Theory of Sigmund Freud has five psychosexual stages. These stages include the oral stage, the anal stage, the phallic stage, the latent stage, and the genital stage. The superego develops when a child reaches age four or five. At this age, the child learns the morals and social norms.
Sigmund Freud’s Concept of Psychosexual Development
| Stage | Age in Years | Erogenous Zone | Consequences |
| Oral | 0-1 | Mouth | Seeks pleasure in oral activities |
| Anal | 1-3 | Anus | Obsessively organized, and
careless |
| Phallic | 3-6 | Genitals | Vanity, over ambition |
| Latency | 6-12 | None | Non-sexual relationships |
| Genital | Above 12 | Maturity in sexual interests | Sexual parody |
Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development
The Oral Stage
The Oral Stage is the infancy stage, which ranges from birth to one year. In this stage, the child’s main focus is to seek pleasure by sucking milk using his or her mouth. During this stage, oral stimulation occurs. In case, a child’s needs are not met, he or she can adopt some odd habits like nail-biting and thumb-sucking.
The Anal Stage
The anal stage ranges from one to three years of age. In this stage, the child’s bowel and bladder are the pleasure-seeking points because parents focus on bowel control and provide the child with toilet training.
The Phallic Stage
The Phallic Stage starts at three and lasts up to six years of age. In this stage, the child’s focus is on the genitals, which becomes a source of pleasure-seeking. The child learns sex differences, fear, and concept of jealousy, which is Oedipus complex in boys and Electra complex in girls.
The Latency Stage
The latency stage begins and ranges between six to twelve years of age. In this stage, pleasure-seeking and sex-related feelings are repressed. Children’s interaction with family members and friends increases resulting in social skills development.
The Genital Stage
The Genital Stage is the final stage, which begins at twelve and lasts up to adulthood (18 years of age). This period reflects the child’s strong interest in the opposite sex. After successfully completing the psychosexual stages, the child grows into a balanced personality.
