Sigmand Frued - Oedipus Complex

Oedipus Complex

[Male Oedipus Complex]

• Initially the boy identifies (want to be) with his father and desire his mother
• Simple

             - Boy feels rivalry with father and incestuous feelings towards mother

• Complete

             - Children are bisexual in nature

                so the feminine aspect of the boy creates reverse feelings towards father.

[Castration Complex]

• Anxiety and confusion causes castration anxiety
• Castration anxiety is triggered by a boy's awareness of a female's absence of male genitalia
• Castration complex dissolves Oedipus complex
• Super ego is developed as the boy identifies (wants to be likes) his father; although sometimes, he may identify with his mother
• Females realize that man have something extra and they become envious, penis envy
• Penis envy is chronic whereas castration anxiety is acute

[Simple Female Oedipus Complex]

• The girl starts to hate her mother for brining her into the world;
• She develops incestuous feeling for her father because he has a penis and he can give her a baby

[Female Oedipus Complex]

• The girl may give up her sexuality
• The girl may fantasize to become a man
• The girl may develop normally and undergo the Oedipus complex

             - She must surrender her sexual desires for her father and identify with her mother

             - Female Oedipus complex is broken up slowly so the female superego is usually weaker