Oedipus complex is related to which phase of psychosexual development ?
**Core Concept**
The Oedipus complex is a psychological concept that refers to a child's desire for the opposite-sex parent and a sense of rivalry with the same-sex parent during a specific phase of psychosexual development. This concept is rooted in Freudian psychoanalysis and is characterized by a child's unconscious feelings of love and desire for the parent of the opposite sex.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The Oedipus complex is specifically related to the phallic stage of psychosexual development, which typically occurs between the ages of 3 and 6 years. During this stage, children begin to develop a sense of genital awareness and may experience feelings of desire and competition for the opposite-sex parent. This complex is a result of the child's desire to possess the opposite-sex parent and eliminate the same-sex parent as a rival.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** The oral stage is the first stage of psychosexual development, characterized by the child's primary focus on the mouth and the process of sucking. It is not associated with the Oedipus complex.
* **Option B:** The latency stage is a period of psychosexual development that occurs between the phallic and genital stages, characterized by a decrease in sexual desire and a focus on social and intellectual development. It is not related to the Oedipus complex.
* **Option C:** The genital stage is the final stage of psychosexual development, characterized by the child's awareness of their own and others' genitalia and the development of a sense of sexual identity. While it is related to the resolution of the Oedipus complex, it is not the specific phase associated with its emergence.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The Oedipus complex is a classic example of a psychological defense mechanism, where the child's unconscious feelings of desire and rivalry are repressed and replaced with more socially acceptable feelings, such as loyalty to the same-sex parent.
**Correct Answer:** C.