Freud's Stages of Psychosexual Development

• The theory is focused almost entirely on male development with little mention of female psychosexual development.


• His theories are difficult to test scientifically. Concepts such as the libido are impossible to measure, and therefore cannot be tested. The research that has been conducted tends to discredit Freud's theory.


• Future predictions are too vague. How can we know that a current behavior was caused specifically by a childhood experience? The length of time between the cause and the effect is too long to assume that there is a relationship between the two variables.


• Freud's theory is based upon case studies and not empirical research. Also, Freud based his theory on the recollections of his adult patients, not on actual observation and study of children.

Take the Psychosexualz Development Quiz

• What is Psychosexual Development?
• The Oral Stage
• The Anal Stage
• The Phallic Stage
• The Latent Period
• The Genital Stage
• Evaluating Freud’s Psychosexual Stage Theory