4. The Oedipus Complex

A central concept in Freud’s theory:

During the phallic stage (ages 3–6), a child develops:

Unconscious desire for the opposite-sex parent.

Rivalry and jealousy toward the same-sex parent.

For boys: desire for the mother, jealousy toward the father.

Fear of punishment (e.g., castration anxiety) leads to repression.

The child begins to identify with the same-sex parent, forming the Superego.

> ⚠️ Female version: Electra Complex (proposed by Carl Jung) — girls desire their father and see their mother as a rival.

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🔹 5. Defense Mechanisms

Used by the Ego to handle conflict between the Id and Superego and reduce anxiety:

Mechanism Description Example