Electra: meaning of the Electra Complex for Jung

George Alvarez 18-10-2023
George Alvarez

As different as each individual may be, they are all similar in their stage of psychosocial development. This is one of the pillars that define how that person will behave once he or she has family independence. Electra Complex for Carl Jung and how it develops.

What is Electra Complex?

Electra complex is the stage of psychosexual development involving girls According to Jung, girls become attracted to the father figure to the detriment of the mother figure. Just as the boys' relationship rivals that of their fathers, girls also find someone to dispute for paternal attention.

Complementing Freudian theory, Jung stated that the relationship between girls and their fathers was influenced by their sexual development. As the girls' psychological growth evolved, their attraction for the father grew along with it. As the father nurtures a love relationship with the mother, the girl begins to see her as a rival.

This whole process begins at the age of three, and lasts until the age of six at the latest. From then on, all this bonding and attachment dissolves naturally. With this, the girl detaches herself from her father and tries to reconnect with her mother. This is her referential of femininity and the little girl tries to connect in order to build her own identity .

How does it start?

Gradually, as we grow up, we begin to feel the natural responses that the body gives regarding sexual impulses. If these come out in the proper way, they result in complete maturity, as well as satisfactory psycho-affective development. If this is done inappropriately, it ends up fostering mental disorders.

As with boys, girls also begin to bond physically and emotionally with their parents at the age of three. Certainly, the bond between women is much stronger than that between mother and child. Before bonding with their parents, girls build a bridge between themselves and their mother. This becomes the hook for them to return to later.

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However, this bond fades away because of the growing fixation he has with the father. According to Jung, she unconsciously realizes that she has no penis and can connect to its symbolism through the father Since she shares attention with her mother, the young woman begins to distance herself from the mother figure, and until she returns, we can observe specific traits in her.

Symptoms

Before we continue, it is worth pointing out that the Electra Complex is not a disease or a syndrome. It is part of the child's maturation and must be well worked through. Even so, you can notice some very relevant characteristics in the girl's behavior, such as:

Possessive affection to father

Naturally, it becomes one of the most obvious symptoms of Electra Complex From the moment the girl realizes that her father is the fruit of love, she will do everything to please him. In time, she becomes very possessive of him .

Jealousy

In time, excessive affection eventually turns into jealousy. Being too small, the girl does not yet have the filters to properly control her emotions. Thanks to this, he will give clear manifestations of his possession in relation to his father .

Hostility

In order to monopolize her father's attention, the girl will do what she can to keep others away, becoming aggressive This is where we must pay more attention, since this exaggerated selfishness can affect the little one's life. If it is not worked on, it will have repercussions in adult life, leading to even greater problems .

Imitation

Little by little, the girl starts to use the objects that belong to her mother Clothes, make-up, and shoes are usually the most popular accessories, and the idea here is to get the father's attention, since he always turns to his mother. This is common at the end of this phase, as the child seeks to connect with the matriarch.

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Consequences

If it is not worked on properly in childhood, the Electra Complex The girl unconsciously seeks to preserve the affectionate and secure relationship she had with her father. Since this bond was not nurtured properly, the adult persona clearly shows in:

Love relationships

The woman maintains her childish perspective on relationships and discounts what she has experienced in her own relationship. This is because he tries to find the father figure in his loves, in order to revitalize his image Since he can't find it, he doesn't know how to deal properly with his partner. This always results in arguments.

Responsibilities

When she grows up, the girl is not able to handle responsibilities in a mature way One of the signs of this is the lack of organization it can present, not to mention work commitments. Both your personal and professional life seem meaningless or lacking a point to focus on.

Conflicts with the mother

Although maternal rivalry starts in a healthy way, if it is not worked on, it can evolve into something more serious As an adult, this girl will have a difficult and conflicting contact with her own mother, which can open the door to the emotional helplessness that she will feel towards life.

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How to work it

In order for there to be no problems as a result of the Electra Complex in the girl's life, the parents need to intervene. They need to talk to the girl about what love is, how it arises and presents itself. With this, she can realize that it is possible to love many people simultaneously and in many different ways. .

In this way, they will help the little girl understand her feelings toward her father and mother Basically, she will perceive the exact connection between father-daughter and husband-wife.

Final Thoughts: Electra Complex

As the girl grows up, she looks for a referential of affection to connect with, and her father becomes this object, since he is the first man she meets. through it you will learn the tools you need to cultivate love in your life In this way, he will do everything to get your attention as he learns to relate to you.

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This is what the Electra Complex does: it focuses the girl's attention on the father to the detriment of the mother. It is worth pointing out that this desire and attraction she feels for the father differs from that normally felt by adults. Even so, this attention needs to be channeled and well distributed between the parents. This is fundamental for the girl to grow well.

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George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.