This paper is a systematic discussion of Freud’s Infantile Sexuality, as found in his Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905), as well as an evaluation of the concept’s strengths and limitations. This analysis also takes into consideration some debates that have developed on the focus of infantile sexuality. Emphasized in this essay are two specific themes. The first portion, how infantile sexuality – as a permanent element of the subject's being – has developed and greatly influenced the perception of sexuality wholly. Therefore, resulting in how in childhood and adolescence, infantile sexuality supplements in clinical treatment and the foundational philosophy of psychoanalysis. (Marion, 2015, p641-664) The later section pertains to
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In his own words, Freud begins his thoughts on infantile sexuality by stating: “It is a part of popular belief about the sexual impulse that it is absent in childhood and that it first appears in the period of life known as puberty. This, though an obvious error, is a serious one in its consequences and is chiefly due to our present ignorance of the fundamental principles of the sexual life.” (Freud, 1905, p174 (1977)) This “obvious error” is an opening for a novel approach on human sexuality entirely. Freud proclaims in his statement that once exposed to this way of philosophical thought there is no return. In the exploration of Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality: Infantile Sexuality (Freud, 1905), the prevaricating development of sexual feelings, progressive suppression and foundational pleasure-seeking principles will be revealed and investigated throughout the infantile period. To evaluate the strengths and limitations of Freud’s concept of infantile sexuality, it is imperative to hone in on the contributing elements such as the development of gender identity, in addition to post-Freud followers that offer a wide lens of paradigms and discourses. Among the post-Freud followers that will be addressed are Melanie Klein, child psychoanalyst and object-relation theorist, as well as the infanthood psychotherapy works and contributions of Anna Freud. Across various perspectives, …show more content…
Holder attempts to comprehend and compare the influences of the two key forerunners in the field, Melanie Klein and Anna Freud. Melanie Klein and Anna Freud both advocated that child psychoanalysis could benefit infants/children by working through inhibitions, fixations and anxieties that delayed development stemmed from the infantile sexuality phases. (Holder, 2005) However, these two post-Freud followers emerge to deviate drastically in vital methodologies. Melanie Klein e.g. believed that child psychoanalysis could be advantageous for all children as a relief in the inflection of their apprehensions (Klein, 1957), whereas Anna Freud thought that psychoanalysis is only suitable when a child had developed an infantile neurosis. (Freud A., 1954) Nonetheless, Melanie Klein and Anna Freud were equally able to take Freud’s foundational theory of infantile sexuality and expand on its strengths in innovative discourses. “Freud was able to discover infantile sexuality in a new way because he reconstructed it from his analytic work with psycho-neurotic patients. In extending his work to cover the treatment of the borderline psychotic patient it is possible for us to reconstruct the dynamics of infancy and of infantile dependence, and of the maternal care that meets this
In his own words, Freud begins his thoughts on infantile sexuality by stating: “It is a part of popular belief about the sexual impulse that it is absent in childhood and that it first appears in the period of life known as puberty. This, though an obvious error, is a serious one in its consequences and is chiefly due to our present ignorance of the fundamental principles of the sexual life.” (Freud, 1905, p174 (1977)) This “obvious error” is an opening for a novel approach on human sexuality entirely. Freud proclaims in his statement that once exposed to this way of philosophical thought there is no return. In the exploration of Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality: Infantile Sexuality (Freud, 1905), the prevaricating development of sexual feelings, progressive suppression and foundational pleasure-seeking principles will be revealed and investigated throughout the infantile period. To evaluate the strengths and limitations of Freud’s concept of infantile sexuality, it is imperative to hone in on the contributing elements such as the development of gender identity, in addition to post-Freud followers that offer a wide lens of paradigms and discourses. Among the post-Freud followers that will be addressed are Melanie Klein, child psychoanalyst and object-relation theorist, as well as the infanthood psychotherapy works and contributions of Anna Freud. Across various perspectives, …show more content…
Holder attempts to comprehend and compare the influences of the two key forerunners in the field, Melanie Klein and Anna Freud. Melanie Klein and Anna Freud both advocated that child psychoanalysis could benefit infants/children by working through inhibitions, fixations and anxieties that delayed development stemmed from the infantile sexuality phases. (Holder, 2005) However, these two post-Freud followers emerge to deviate drastically in vital methodologies. Melanie Klein e.g. believed that child psychoanalysis could be advantageous for all children as a relief in the inflection of their apprehensions (Klein, 1957), whereas Anna Freud thought that psychoanalysis is only suitable when a child had developed an infantile neurosis. (Freud A., 1954) Nonetheless, Melanie Klein and Anna Freud were equally able to take Freud’s foundational theory of infantile sexuality and expand on its strengths in innovative discourses. “Freud was able to discover infantile sexuality in a new way because he reconstructed it from his analytic work with psycho-neurotic patients. In extending his work to cover the treatment of the borderline psychotic patient it is possible for us to reconstruct the dynamics of infancy and of infantile dependence, and of the maternal care that meets this