In Freud's theory, what is the term for becoming fixated at a particular psychosexual stage?

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In Freud's theory, fixation occurs when an individual becomes overly involved or stuck at a particular psychosexual stage of development, which directly influences their personality and behaviors in adulthood. This concept aligns closely with the idea of personality patterns developing as a result of unresolved conflicts or challenges during those stages. According to Freud, these stages include oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital, and each stage is characterized by specific challenges and experiences that shape a person’s psyche. If these experiences are not properly resolved, an individual may exhibit certain personality traits or behaviors that are indicative of that specific stage, resulting in a pattern that can be understood through the lens of Freud's developmental stages.

The other terms mentioned do not capture this specific idea of fixation in relation to psychosexual development. Internal conflict refers more to the struggles between different parts of the psyche rather than being related to a developmental stage. Overindulgence may contribute to fixation but is not the term used by Freud to describe the phenomenon itself. Displacement is a defense mechanism involving transferring emotions from one object to another, which does not align with the concept of psychosexual fixation.

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