Name the five stages of psychosexual development, according to the psychoanalytic theory.

• A. Oral, Phallic, Anal, Latency, Genital
• B. Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital
• C. Oral, Phallic, Latency, Anal, Genital
• D. Oral, Phallic, Genital, Anal, Latency

Answer: (A)

In Freud's theory, development unfolds as the libido moves through distinct erogenous zones, creating five fixed stages in a specific order. The correct sequence is: oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital. At the oral stage, pleasure centers on the mouth (feeding and later oral activities). In the anal stage, focus shifts to bowel and bladder control and the related toilet-training dynamics. The phallic stage centers on the genitals, where children encounter the Oedipus/Electra experiences and begin forming a gender identity and identification with the same-sex parent. The latency stage is a period of relatively calm sexual energy and social development, and the genital stage resumes mature sexual interests and relationships during puberty onward. The option that places phallic before anal does not match the established progression.