Latency Stage (Noun)
Meaning
(psychoanalysis) the fourth period (from about age 5 or 6 until puberty) during which sexual interests are supposed to be sublimated into other activities.
Classification
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations.
Examples
- During the latency stage, children typically focus on developing social and intellectual skills rather than exploring their sexuality.
- Because the latency stage spans such a long period, childhood friendships formed during this time can have a lasting impact on one's life.
- According to Freudian psychoanalysis, the latency stage is characterized by a decrease in overtly sexual behaviors and fantasies.
- In some cultures, the latency stage is marked by the introduction of puberty rites and rituals that help guide the child through this transition.
- Research suggests that the latency stage is also a critical period for developing emotional intelligence and coping mechanisms.