Genital Stage (Noun)
Meaning
(psychoanalysis) the fifth sexual and social stage in a person's development occurring during adolescence; interest focuses on sexual activity.
Classification
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations.
Examples
- According to psychoanalytic theory, individuals who become fixated during the genital stage may struggle with intimacy and relationships as adults.
- The genital stage is the final stage in psychosexual development, during which adolescents and young adults focus on the opposite sex and explore their own identities.
- During the genital stage, the adolescent's sex drive shapes relationships and development as they learn to navigate social interactions and intimacy.
- Some critics of psychoanalytic theory argue that the genital stage oversimplifies or distorts the complexities of human development during adolescence.
- In psychoanalysis, the genital stage serves as a critical period in which individuals develop a healthy or unhealthy view of sex and relationships.