Freud's Developmental Theory

Issues of Concern

Overview of Key Features and Criticisms of Freud's Theory

Sigmund Freud, often referred to as the "Father of Psychoanalysis," profoundly influenced both theoretical and practical approaches to understanding the human mind and the.[6] The concept that personality is shaped by childhood experiences—an especially vulnerable period—is a widely accepted paradigm in psychiatry. Childhood vulnerabilities and anxieties are believed to have a critical role in shaping future emotional challenges.[6][7]

Modern Criticisms and Reinterpretations of Freud's Theory

The primary tenet of Freudian psychosocial development is the causal relationship between sexual conflict and the subsequent precipitant psychoneurosis. This principle has been controversial since its inception. Critics of Freud argue that neuroses can develop independently, without the need for a psychosexual cause.[2] 

Another common critique of Freud's theory is the issue of experimenter bias. In their paper Biology and the Oedipus Complex, Friedman and Downey suggest that the Oedipus complex may be a misinterpretation of evolutionary-based play behavior, manifesting through competition.[8] 

Freud argues that early experiences and interactions with parents and caregivers shape an individual's personality. His theory emphasizes sexual drives and the unconscious mind, focusing solely on the individual psyche.[6] The theory does not acknowledge the role of society or culture in shaping identity.[6]

Furthermore, Freud’s theory focuses solely on development from birth through adolescence, suggesting that personality becomes fixed during the teenage years.[7] According to this view, any psychological injury inflicted during these stages is irreversible. This perspective contrasts with the opinions of his followers, particularly Erik Erikson, who argued that development continues throughout the lifespan.

The Oedipus complex is one of the most controversial and criticized concepts introduced by Freud. Despite this, it remains a core concept in psychoanalysis and continues to influence our understanding of human psychology and development.[6] The Oedipus complex occurs between the ages of 3 and 6 (Phallic stage) and involves a young boy’s unconscious desire for his mother and a wish to replace his father to gain her affection. These aggressive sexual urges are met with fear of castration by the father (castration anxiety), which leads the boy to abandon his desire for his mother. The unconscious nature of these feelings causes the child to feel guilty about his incestuous desires.

While Freud argues that the Oedipus complex is the core defining dynamic of human life, the unconscious sense of guilt is a deeper, underlying feeling that both precedes and transcends it. The superego is essentially a manifestation of unconscious guilt. Oedipal desires are repressed by the superego, which is also an end product of these desires. Although Freud suggests that the unconscious sense of guilt arises as a byproduct of Oedipal development, this guilt actually exists well before the Oedipus complex, challenging the belief that the superego develops during the phallic stage.[9] 

The unconscious sense of guilt lays the foundation for Freud’s tripartite model of the ego and the id. According to the structural theory, the id is entirely nonmoral, the ego strives to be moral, and the superego is supermoral, sometimes as cruel as the id. The stronger an individual's moral standards, the more dominant the superego becomes. An overly dominant superego redirects aggression inward and is believed to be the root cause of obsessive neurosis, resulting in ruminations, compulsions, and prohibitions.[9] 

Freud’s ideas have been criticized as reductive by both the feminist and gay rights movements.[10] Karen Horney, a student of Freud and a prominent figure in psychoanalysis, challenged the concept of penis envy, arguing that it reflects a male-centric perspective and fails to account for the lived experiences of women.[7] Another major criticism is Freud’s repressive stance on homosexuality.[11] Freud's theory identifies heterosexuality as the normal resolution of the Oedipal complex, while characterizing homosexuality as a deviation or a sign of arrested sexual development.[12] Despite the criticisms, Freud's pioneering work significantly influenced psychology and our understanding of human behavior and mental processes.

Clinical Significance

Freud's ideas paved the way for a deeper exploration of the unconscious aspects of the human mind, ultimately laying the foundation for psychoanalysis and modern psychodynamic psychotherapy.[6][7]

Nursing, Allied Health, and Interprofessional Team Interventions

An example of how dysfunction in Freud's psychosexual development can impact patient care is discussed in a 2008 paper that examines the shift handover ritual among psychiatric nurses. The handover process from one nursing shift to another meets all the criteria of a ritual, as defined by psychoanalytic theory. This ritual is influenced by the nurses' anxieties and their resulting perceptions of the patient. Notably, it is suggested that the handover serves as a ritual through which nurses can manage their anxieties and continue providing care for the patient.[13]