Oral Phase (Noun)
Meaning
(psychoanalysis) the first sexual and social stage of an infant's development; the mouth is the focus of the libido and satisfaction comes from suckling and chewing and biting.
Classification
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations.
Examples
- During the oral phase, infants derive pleasure from activities involving the mouth, such as sucking and eating.
- According to Freud, the oral phase is the first stage of psychosexual development, where the infant's mouth is the primary focus of pleasure.
- In the oral phase, infants begin to learn about social interaction through the act of feeding and receiving nourishment from others.
- Freud believed that the oral phase was critical in shaping an individual's future relationships and behaviors, particularly in terms of dependency and trust.
- Some researchers have suggested that difficulties during the oral phase, such as deprivation or overindulgence, can have lasting impacts on an individual's development and sense of security.