Which stage follows the oral stage in Freud's psychosexual development?

Which stage follows the oral stage in Freud's psychosexual development?

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

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is the order Freud proposed for his psychosexual stages. The stage that follows the oral stage is the anal stage, because after the infant gains gratification from oral activities like sucking, the next focus for pleasure shifts to bowel and bladder control during toilet training. This stage centers on harnessing and managing impulses, and how the child negotiates independence and rules around cleanliness. Experiences here can influence later attitudes toward control and order. The later stages—phallic, latency, and genital—come after the anal stage, so they aren’t the next in sequence.

The idea being tested is the order Freud proposed for his psychosexual stages. The stage that follows the oral stage is the anal stage, because after the infant gains gratification from oral activities like sucking, the next focus for pleasure shifts to bowel and bladder control during toilet training. This stage centers on harnessing and managing impulses, and how the child negotiates independence and rules around cleanliness. Experiences here can influence later attitudes toward control and order. The later stages—phallic, latency, and genital—come after the anal stage, so they aren’t the next in sequence.