A nurse is assisting with teaching a class about Freud’s psychosexual stages

The nurse should reinforce that fixation at the oral stage of development can lead to which of the following conditions?

A.
Inability to form healthy relationships

B.
Feelings of shame

C.
Bedwetting

D.
Overeating

The correct answer and Explanation is :

The correct answer is D. Overeating.

Explanation:

Freud’s psychosexual stages of development outline how personality and behaviors develop from early childhood through specific phases. The first stage, the oral stage, occurs from birth to about 18 months. During this stage, an infant’s pleasure centers on the mouth, involving activities like sucking and biting. Freud suggested that if an infant’s needs are not adequately met or if they are overly indulged during this stage, they may develop oral fixation.

Oral fixation can manifest in various adult behaviors and personality traits. One common result of oral fixation is the tendency towards behaviors related to the mouth, such as overeating, smoking, or excessive drinking. These behaviors are seen as an attempt to fulfill unmet needs from the oral stage of development. Overeating, in particular, can be viewed as a way to satisfy the oral desires that were not properly addressed during infancy.

In contrast, fixation at other stages has different implications:

  • Inability to form healthy relationships (A) is more related to the later stages of development, such as the phallic stage, where issues with parental relationships might arise.
  • Feelings of shame (B) are often associated with the anal stage of development, where control issues and toilet training play a significant role.
  • Bedwetting (C) is linked to issues in the anal stage, particularly with the development of control over bodily functions.

Freud’s theory emphasizes that early experiences shape adult personality and behaviors. Therefore, fixation at the oral stage primarily impacts behaviors related to oral activities, with overeating being a common manifestation of unresolved issues from this phase.

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