The anal stage is the second stage in Sigmund Freud 's theory of psychosexual development , lasting from age 18 months to three years. According to Freud, the anus is the primary erogenous zone and pleasure is derived from controlling bladder and bowel movement. The major conflict issue during this stage is toilet training. A fixation at this stage can result in a personality that is too rigid or one that is too disordered.
According to the psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud — , the second libidinal stage of psychosexual development, from about 2 to 3 years of age, characterized by a focusing of libido on the anal erotogenic zone, an investment of object-relationships with meanings associated with faeces and defecation, and a strengthening of sadomasochistic tendencies. Also called the anal-sadistic stage or phase. See anal-expulsive phase, anal-retentive phase. See also anal character, genital stage, latency period. Subjects: Science and technology — Psychology. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single entry from a reference work in OR for personal use for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice.
Chapter 3: Section 4: Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development
How does personality develop? According to the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud , children go through a series of psychosexual stages that lead to the development of the adult personality. His theory described how personality developed over the course of childhood.
Sigmund Freud is probably the most well known theorist when it comes to the development of personality. This theory is probably the most well known as well as the most controversial, as Freud believed that we develop through stages based upon a particular erogenous zone. During each stage, an unsuccessful completion means that a child becomes fixated on that particular erogenous zone and either over— or under-indulges once he or she becomes an adult.