Which Freud stage is associated with the Oedipus complex?

• A. Phallic stage
• B. Oral stage
• C. Latency stage
• D. Genital stage

Answer: (A)

The Oedipus complex appears during the phallic stage, roughly ages 3 to 6, when children become aware of their own genitals and begin to have unconscious sexual feelings toward the opposite-sex parent while viewing the same-sex parent as a rival. This stage is where Freud says the core conflict arises, and resolution comes through identification with the parent of the same sex, helping form the superego. The other stages involve different focuses and timings: the oral stage centers on feeding and dependency in infancy, the latent stage is a quiet period with little psychosexual energy, and the genital stage begins at puberty with mature sexual interests. So the phallic stage is the one associated with the Oedipus complex.