Psychodynamicc explanation of gender Flashcards
what does Freud’s overall theory of child development say?
children pas through FIVE psychosexual stages, and during the PHALLIC gender development OCCURS, before this stage children have NO concept of gender identity.
Focus of pleasure switches to the genitals, boys form an OEDIPUS complex and girls form the ELECTRA complex.
what happens during the oedipus complex?
Boys begin to DESIRE their mother, father becomes a RIVAL for the moms love and attention, and they FEAR their father CASTRATING them.
Causes castration ANXIETY which they repress, boy RESOLVES this complex by IDENTIFYING with their father and internalise an adult male role so that they can get married and fufill desires when older.
what is the ELECTRA complex?
They are attracted to their mom and disappointed when they find out she does NOT have a penis, BLAMES mum for not owning one and believes she was CASTRATED which causes penis ENVY.
Girls sexual desires are TRANSFERRED to their father, RESOLVES the complex by turning her penis envy into a WISH to have a baby herself so IDENTIFIES with her own mum and INTERNALISES female gender identity.
