Oedipus complex

Oedipus complex - one of the key concepts of the psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud. Under this complex, Freud meant conflicting feelings for the parent of their sex and unconscious sexual attraction to the parent of the opposite sex. The name owes its Oedipus to the Greek mythology: according to myth, the king Thebes Oedipus unknowingly killed his father Lai unintentionally and after that married his mother Jocasta.

Speaking about this complex, most often imply the Oedipus complex in boys: Freud's follower Carl Gustav Jung believed that the concept of the Oedipus complex to girls is inapplicable, and introduced a new term, the "Electra complex", describing a similar complex in women.

According to Freud, Oedipus complex is a stage of psychosexual development of the child, which first appears at the age of 2-3 years. Freud believed that a boy at this age begins to experience a sexual attraction to his mother and at the same time is jealous of her father, but tries to hide his hostile motives, because he expects punishment from his father in the form of castration.

Peak this complex reaches between the third and fifth years of life, then fades (the child suppresses attraction to the mother and identifies himself with the father) and again reborn in the puberty period.

If the Oedipus complex has not been properly resolved, it can lead to problems with mental health, in particular, to neuroses and sexual deviations (the so-called unauthorized Oedipus complex). Over time, Freud began to attach more importance to this complex.

Representatives of other areas of psychoanalysis, which differ from the classical theory of Freud, rethought the concept of the Oedipus complex. Thus, Karl Gustav Jung, as we have already said, demarcated the Oedipus complex and the Electra complex.

Alfred Adler considered the Oedipus complex one of the manifestations of the spoiled child, and also criticized him for not taking into account the influence of brothers and sisters on the child's mental development. Also Many psychoanalysts criticized a pronounced sexual coloring, which Freud attributed to this complex.

In modern psychoanalysis, the Oedipus complex is usually interpreted much broader than that of Freud. Psychoanalysts recognize its role inpsychosexual development of a person, but less attention is paid to his sexual component. In general, the Oedipus complex is now understood much more widely than in Freud's time, and often characterizes the whole gamut of relations between the child and his parents.

How does the unresolved Oedipus complex manifest itself? "Mama's sons", almost completelydependent on the mother, even in adulthood, are typical victims of the Oedipus complex. The main woman in their lives is always the mother, and the relationship with the girls are not glued - none of them can not stand competition.

A softer manifestation is the search for a partner who looks like a mother externally and in character. Often, by the way, in pairs with a big age difference, where the partner is older, the partner is also affected by the Oedipus complex.

However, it is worth remembering that psychoanalysis is just one of many psychological theories. If we talk about psychology in general, then in this science, the Oedipus complex never became officially accepted by the term: it is impossible to prove the existence of this complex using official scientific methods. Yes, and the statement that a small child may experience sexual attraction, many scientists seem doubtful.

That is why Do not dump your problems in relationships with parents and in your personal life on the Oedipus complex.