While the sequences of psychosexual stages are determined by maturation (it is biologically
programmed), what is crucial is how the child is treated by others, especially the parents. Either
excessive gratification or extreme frustration can result in an individual getting emotionally stuck
(fixated) at a particular stage, producing associated adult personality traits. In this way Freud was able
to explain how individual differences arise from common developmental patterns. Below are some
descriptions of personality characteristics which may develop in adult life if the child becomes fixated at
a particular psychosexual stage.
Use the characteristics to match each person with the stage/substage at which they became fixated.
Jason has a preoccupation with everything being tidy. He is never late. He never likes routine
to be disrupted and his friends joke he has OCD.
Janet loves food and tends to be greedy. She is good at speaking foreign languages and gossips
with friends. She is described as a compulsive talker.
Sally bites her nails.
Andy is mean and miserly. He collects matchboxes, beer mats, and likes to save the string and
wrapping paper from parcels.
Steve avoids close relationships with women, since he finds it impossible to become
emotionally involved in sexual activity. He is happier reading.
Mark generally loses money gambling.
Khalid is excessively generous. He gives a percentage of his money to charity each month,
buys his friends and family presents he can ill afford.
Katie shows excessive displays of femininity and is always immaculately dressed. She is
extremely self-centred and has great ambitions for herself; she is prepared to tread on
anybody to get to the top.
While the sequences of psychosexual stages are determined by maturation (it is biologically
programmed), what is crucial is how the child is treated by others, especially the parents. Either
excessive gratification or extreme frustration can result in an individual getting emotionally stuck
(fixated) at a particular stage, producing associated adult personality traits. In this way Freud was able
to explain how individual differences arise from common developmental patterns. Below are some
descriptions of personality characteristics which may develop in adult life if the child becomes fixated at
a particular psychosexual stage.
Use the characteristics to match each person with the stage/substage at which they became fixated.
Jason has a preoccupation with everything being tidy. He is never late. He never likes routine
to be disrupted and his friends joke he has OCD.
Janet loves food and tends to be greedy. She is good at speaking foreign languages and gossips
with friends. She is described as a compulsive talker.
Sally bites her nails.
Andy is mean and miserly. He collects matchboxes, beer mats, and likes to save the string and
wrapping paper from parcels.
Steve avoids close relationships with women, since he finds it impossible to become
emotionally involved in sexual activity. He is happier reading.
Mark generally loses money gambling.
Khalid is excessively generous. He gives a percentage of his money to charity each month,
buys his friends and family presents he can ill afford.
Katie shows excessive displays of femininity and is always immaculately dressed. She is
extremely self-centred and has great ambitions for herself; she is prepared to tread on
anybody to get to the top.