"When Freud published his first studies on childhood sexuality and psychosexual development, he shocked the society of his time, which had an idea that sexuality did not exist in this age group. In these works, Freud exposes that, since birth, the individual is endowed with affection, desire and conflicts" (COSTA e OLIVEIRA, 2011).Freud's relationship and psychosexual development.

Freud and the sexual drive

In "The Three Essays on Sexuality" (ESB, Volume VII, 1901 - 1905), Freud poses the question of the sexual drive that needs to be satisfied somehow!

Since "Studies on Hysteria" (1893 - 1895) - the Anna O. (Berta Pappenheim) case - one can consider the subject of sexuality, despite all resistance, including from Breur, the book's coauthor.

According to Garcia-Roza (2005), "one of the assumptions that supported the theory and therapy of hysteria at the time of the Studies of Hysteria would be a psychic trauma of sexual content arising from a real seduction, in childhood, victimizing the subject traumatically.

Freud and the Psychosexual Development

At this time, Freud did not yet admit infantile sexuality, which would make it complicated to relate such an actual sexual seduction by an adult to a trauma theory, because if there were no infantile sexuality, such seduction could not even be experienced, symbolized or repressed.

Already, around 1897, Freud, overcomes the question of Trauma Theory The question of fantasy and that of infantile sexuality, both can be summarized in one: the discovery of the Oedipus!

Since then, from about 1896 to 1987, Freud worked, together with Fliess (Letters 42 and 75), on the theory of the phases of the libido included in the "Three Essays". It becomes, therefore, a sine qua non condition, in order to understand the concept of phase, the question of the erogenous zone and the object relation.

The stages of psychosexual development

Freud organizes the psychosexual development in five distinct, but not watertight, phases, that is, there is a theoretical chronological delimitation, but it varies and there may be interaction and intersection between them:

• Oral phase;
• Anal phase;
• Phallic phase;
• Latency;
• Genital.

Zimerman (1999) states that: "(...) different evolutionary moments leave imprinted in the psyche what Freud called attachment points, towards which eventually any subject can make a movement of regression".

Freud and psychosexual development in the " Oral Phase"

The first phase of this evolution is the Oral Phase. Theoretically it comprises the period from birth to around two years of age.

In this phase, pleasure is linked to the ingestion of food and the excitation of the erogenous zone of the baby's mouth and lips. It is also worth mentioning that, in this phase, libidinal investment (erogenous zone) is linked to pleasure, especially through breastfeeding and the use of the pacifier.

"Some manifestations of oral neuroses are: excessive drinking and eating, language and speech problems, aggression with words (corresponding to biting), swearing, teasing, exaggerated scruples not to disturb, unconscious desire to settle down and displace everyone, inability to accept favors and receive gifts. The eagerness for knowledge, the study of languages, singing, oratory, declamation, are examples of sublimation of oral tendencies." (MODULE 3 Apostille (2020 - 2021) of the IBPC Psychoanalysis Training Course)

"Anal Phase" and psychosexual development

The Anal Phase is the second phase of child sexuality; is between approximately two and four years of age. It is a phase full of symbolism and fantasy, since feces comes from inside the body and the child establishes a certain bond with both the ability to excrete, as with retention; which, in a way, causes pleasure.

It is also, due to this phase and the significances fixed in it, paradoxical manifestations of love and hate, competitiveness, need for control and manipulation are perceived in the future; in addition to possible obsessive-compulsive neuroses.

According to Zimerman (1999), important functions emerge at this stage: "(...) the acquisition of language; crawling and walking; curiosity and exploration of the external world; progressive learning of sphincter control; motor control and pleasure with muscular activity; individuation and separation tests (for example, eatingalone, without the help of others); the development of language and verbal communication, with the symbolization of the word; the toys and games; the acquisition of the condition to say no ; etc." Approximately between the third and fifth or sixth year of the child's life, the important one presents itself.

" Phallic Phase"

Essential phase for the organization of the libido, which "eroticizes" the genitals (erogenous zones) and the children have the desire to manipulate them.

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It is essential to point out that, "the activities of this erogenous zone, of which the sexual organs are a part, are undoubtedly the beginning of normal sexual life" (COSTA and OLIVEIRA, 2011).

Freud and psychosexual development based on IBPC

According to the MODULE 5 (2020 - 2021) Workbook for the IBPC Psychoanalysis Training Course, "in this phase the child discovers pleasure in the genital region, either by the contact of the wind or the hand of the person who performs its hygiene, even if unconsciously.

Noteworthy in the phallic phase is both the "summit" and the decline of the Oedipus Complex.

In the boy, one perceives the (narcissistic) interest in his own penis and the anguish of castration due to the fear of losing it; and in the girl, the "envy" of the penis, due to its absence.

The "Latency Phase

Between the ages of approximately 6 and 14, there is the Latency Phase - a phase of intense repression and repressing in the unconscious of sexual fantasies and issues.

Zimerman (1999) states that, "at this time, therefore, the child directs its libido to social development, that is, the entry into the formal school period, the experience with other children, the practice of physical activities, like sports, enables the formation and maturation of character, since it is exposed to moral and social aspirations".

The stages of psychosexual development have approximations and intersections when it comes to age.

Finally, the "Genital Phase

In this way, between the ages of ten and fourteen, that is, puberty, the Genital Phase begins; which, in a certain way, accompanies the subject until the end of life. The libido returns its "concentration" on the genitals, as they mature.

For Psychoanalysis, to fully and adequately reach this stage, implies in the development of what can be scored (not to generalize) as a "normal" adult.

Final considerations

Even if in a synthetic way, highlighting a minimum of points (through the immense range of what could be addressed), comments, and developments, we tried to demonstrate, perhaps to arouse, the enormous importance of this theme.

A theme so badly treated, controversial, misunderstood, subject to prejudices and stigmas! A theme sometimes misconducted in the clinical bubbles of areas other than psychoanalysis.

Bibliographic references

APOSTIL MODULE 3 (2020 - 2021) of the IBPC's Training Course in Psychoanalysis. ________ MODULE 5 (2020 - 2021) of the IBPC's Training Course in Psychoanalysis. COSTA. E.R and OLIVEIRA. K. E. Sexuality according to psychoanalytic theory and the role of parents in this process. Revista Eletrônica Campus Jataí - UFG. Vol. 2 n.11. ISSN: 1807-9314: Jataí/Goiás, 2011. FREUD. S. ESB, v. XVII, 1901 - 1905. Rio deJaneiro: Imago, 1996. GARCIA-ROSA. L.A. Freud e o inconsciente. 21ª ed. Rio de Janeiro: Jorge Zahar Ed., 2005. ZIMERMAN. David E. Fundamentos psicanalíticos: teoria, técnica e clínica - uma abordagem didática. Porto Alegre: Artmed, 1999.

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This article was written by Marcos Castro ( [email protected] com) Marcos is a Clinical Psychoanalyst, Psychoanalysis Supervisor, researcher, writer, and lecturer.