Introduction

One of the most significant developments in Psychological theory is that behavior is not only a function of conscious thought, but also of unconscious thought. This discovery of psychoanalytic theory has also established that the development of childrens cognitive processes advances in stages, whereby each stage focuses on a different tension or task to be achieved. (CITE BOOK REFERENCE HERE)

Presentation of Theory

Sigmund Freud is considered to be the father of psychoanalysis based on his work from 1905 1920. His work is so influential that many of the concepts he created - and the relative terminology - have made their way into the language of virtually all educated people. (CITE BOOK REFERENCE HERE) Freud was born on 6 May, 1856 in Moravia. He was a neurologist. He worked in Vienna and during his work he developed the idea that personality development hinges on the methods used by parents to contend with their childrens aggressive and basic sexual desires. He determined that it was so important as to establish whether children would grow up to be well-adjusted adults. (Oswalt, 2008) Freud established that there are multiple stages in a childs development. These he called Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency and Genital. According to Freud, these stages represent the different activities and subsequent pleasure pertaining to particular areas of the body. For example, during the Oral stage, infants are motivated by the pleasure they derive from sucking and biting things with their mouth. As they grow older, the focus shifts to the anus as children begin to attempt to control their bowels. The next stage is the Phallic, whereby children identify with themselves and their gender, often marked by genital stimulation. It is during this phase, according to Freud, that children tend to bond more with the parent of the opposite sex and feel resentful towards the parent of the same sex. What is interesting is that Freud was able to call this the Oedipus Complex, as the same notion was the theme of the ancient Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex, where King Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother. This shows that Freuds stages in and of themselves were existent long before he labeled them and explained them. The Phallic stage, according to Freud, is followed by a period of Latency, which is a period characterized by a lack of sexual urges or interest. (Oswalt, 2008) DINAS READY TEXT Freud pointed out that in babies, it is the unconscious, selfish instincts which control their behavior seeking immediate gratification. He labeled this consciousness the Id. As babies form more realistic demands on the environment around them (having failed to have their every instinct immediately gratified) their consciousness developed from the Id to the Ego. Further along in a childs development, he begins to think about things apart from his

own wishes and satisfaction. He learns values from his parents and other caregivers. These morals become ingrained on a childs consciousness and was labeled as the Super-ego by Freud. It is the Super-ego which helps a person struggle with right and wrong. Together with the realistic expectations of the Ego, the Super-ego helps us to control our selfish, pleasure seeking Id. (Oswalt, 2008)

DINAS READY TEXT CONCLUSION Even though Freud was not subject to the same scientific standards of research in place today, there can be no question that his developments in the understanding of the psyche are unparalleled and influential even today. His stage development theory caught the attention of psychologists across borders and has served as a foundation upon which further psychologists have been able to develop and test their own, more scientifically advanced theories.

Reference (THE ONE YOU CALL NET)

Oswalt, A. (2008). Sigmund Freud and Child Development. Columbus: CenterSite, LLC. http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=7926&cn=28