HBSE 122 ASSIGNMENT

Louie S. Andoyo
BSSW-A
Research the following
1. Sigmund Freud’s Stages of Development
2. Sigmund Freud’s Defense Mechanism
Q#1. Answer
Sigmund Freud proposed a psychosexual theory of development that consists of five
stages.
1. Oral Stage (birth to 1.5 years): In this stage, pleasure is centered around the
mouth, such as sucking and biting. Unresolved conflicts at this stage can lead to
oral fixation, resulting in behaviors like smoking, overeating, or nail-biting.

2. Anal Stage (1.5 to 3 years): During this stage, pleasure is focused on bowel and
bladder control. The child experiences pleasure in withholding or expelling feces.
If a child excessively controls or withholds, they might develop an anal-retentive
personality, while those who are messy or expulsive might display an anal-
expulsive personality.

3. Phallic Stage (3 to 6 years): This stage is characterized by sexual curiosity and

development of the Oedipus or Electra complex. Children become aware of their
gender differences and develop unconscious sexual desires for their opposite-
sex parent while harboring rivalries with their same-sex parent. Resolving this
stage is crucial for healthy sexual development.

4. Latency Stage (6 years to puberty): This stage marks a period of relative calm in
sexual impulses. Children focus on developing intellectual, social, and physical
skills, often forming same-sex friendships. Repression of sexual desires occurs
during this stage.

5. Genital Stage (puberty to adulthood): This final stage occurs during adolescence
when sexual desires resurface, and individuals seek mature and intimate
relationships. Successful progression through earlier stages helps individuals
establish healthy relationships and mature sexual identities.
Q#2. Answer
Defense mechanisms are psychological processes proposed by Sigmund Freud to
protect the ego from experiencing anxiety or distress. These mechanisms come into
play when there is a conflict between the unconscious desires (id) and the moral and
societal standards (superego). Here are some of the main defense mechanisms:
1. Repression: This defense mechanism involves pushing undesirable thoughts,
memories, or emotions into the unconscious mind, thereby keeping them out of
conscious awareness.
2. Denial: Denial is when a person refuses to accept or acknowledge reality, often
acting as if something distressing or threatening doesn’t exist.
3. Projection: Projection occurs when a person attributes their own unacceptable
thoughts, feelings, or motives to someone else. It involves displacing one’s own
unwanted impulses onto another person.
4. Displacement: This mechanism involves redirecting emotions or impulses from
their original source to a safer, often less threatening target. For example,
someone might take out their frustration on a coworker after a disagreement with
their partner.
5. Sublimation: Sublimation is a more adaptive form of defense mechanism where
the individual channels their unacceptable urges or impulses into socially
acceptable activities or behaviors. An example would be channeling aggressive
urges into playing sports or engaging in artistic pursuits.
6. Rationalization: Rationalization is when individuals invent logical or plausible
explanations to justify their thoughts, feelings, or actions, usually to avoid feeling
guilty or responsible.
7. Regression: Regression refers to reverting to earlier, more infantile or childlike
behavior patterns when faced with stress or anxiety. For example, an adult might
start throwing a tantrum when things don’t go their way.

REFERENCES
Freud, S. (1915). The unconscious and defense mechanisms. In J. Strachey (Ed.
and Trans.), The standard edition of the complete psychological
works of Sigmund Freud (Vol. 14, pp. 159-215). London,
England: Hogarth Press.
Freud, S. (1905). Three essays on the theory of sexuality. In J. Strachey (Ed. And
Trans.), The standard edition of the complete psychological
works of Sigmund Freud (Vol. 7, pp. 123-246). London,
England: Hogarth Press.