Called a pervert by some and the father of psychology by others, Sigmund Freud is one of the most controversial characters in the history of psychology. But maybe not a theory of the Oedipus complex It wasn’t that controversial and elicited no response. As with Freud’s other theories to date Although not verified or disproved, it is still very popular.

The theory has been criticized for being based on the Little Hans Case, which we’ll talk about below; because there is no concrete evidence other than this example. The critique states that the case of Little Hans can be interpreted with different theories (e.g. Bowlby’s Attachment Theory), and that Freud’s excessive emphasis on sexual instincts It is alleged (mainly by Erikson) that he did it.

So what is this Oedipus complex?

This complex is named after the famous play by Sophocles. of Oedipus the King gets. King Oedipus kills his father to be with his mother, and is cursed for what he did.

Freud’s complex phallic stage of development He states that it develops between the ages of 3 and 6 and claims that during this period the source of the libido (vital force/sexual instinct) is concentrated in the erogenous parts of his child’s body. In the continuation of the theory, the following is also emphasized: During this period, the girl is attracted to her father and becomes jealous of her father of her mother. The boy, on the other hand, is attracted to his mother and is jealous of his father’s mother. one with his father rivalry He goes in, his goal is to have his mother.

What are the differences between Oedipus Complex and Electra Complex?

The Oedipus complex is a more general concept and refers to the interest of children of both sexes in their parents of the opposite sex. Electra complex It expresses the daughter’s interest in the father. The Elektra Complex is used to express the daughter’s jealousy towards her father and mother, the desire to replace the mother, and the exaggerated love for the father.

What are the symptoms of the Oedipus complex?

Symptoms of this unproven complex include:

• The child in this age group begins to compare himself to his father and create a relationship between himself and him. common points trying to find it.
• his love for his mother, He begins to express himself at every opportunity he gets.
• to his father your hate (Freud says children can suppress it for fear of castration).
• Like shaving, walking like his father, using the words he used behavior imitating his father show.
• Because of the overwhelming desire to sleep with his mother to kick his father out of bed walking behaviour.
• He will marry his mother can tell.
• He allows his parents to “kiss, hug, use words of love” for every sensual contact he is around. an overreaction can show, try to separate; It can even go as far as crying.

How is the Oedipus complex treated?

Freud supported this theory with the case of “Little Hans”. in this case little Hans, He is a 5 year old boy with a phobia of horses. Through correspondence with Kleine Hans’ father, Freud tries to find the cause of the phobia and to follow a certain treatment path. In the course of his correspondence, Freud believes that the source of the problem is “the fear that the child will be castrated (neutered, sterilized) by his father because of his desire to possess his mother”. He continues this thought as follows: the horse is the symbol of the father† Hans’ fear of being bitten (neutered) by a horse (father) is a response to his desire to possess his mother. punishment. Freud published a summary of the treatment he had applied to this case in 1909 entitled “Analysis of a phobia in a five-year-old boy”.

The only treatment Freud suggested was for the child to identify himself as the same sex. identification with parent† Consciousness (ego) and moral values ​​of society (superego) play an important role in suppressing this complex. But this complex manifests itself in adulthood. feelings of guilt There are also tables available.

Criticism of the theory:

• Freud just made this theory The Case of Little Hans This case can also be explained on the basis of various theories (eg Bowlby’s Attachment Theory).
• Other psychodynamic theorists such as Erikson (1950) argue that Freud’s instincts, in particular your sexual instinct They believed that he exaggerated its influence on personality development. Erikson as an alternative, psychosocial development theory has made.
• Another major criticism is that Freud reported: a child patient Hans’s father (an adherent of Freud’s theories) did most of Little Hans’ psychoanalysis, and Freud was highly biased, as Hans subscribed to his Oedipal theory.
• In general, the matter is scientific validity and reliability violates its principles. This is another criticism of the theory.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4