Approaches: Psychodynamic

According to Freud

• In the phallic stage, boy has a intense love for his mother 
• Sees father as rival for her affections

However...

• Realises father is physically stronger
• Afraid of punishment from him via castration

Anxiety resolved by...

• Son identifies with father
• Son becomes like the father (incl. gender behaviour)

According to Freud

• In the phallic stage, girl has a intense love for her father 
• Sees mother as rival for his affections
• "Penis Envy" - blames mother for a lack of a penis

However...

• Worried she will lose mother's love due to competing for affection

Anxiety resolved by...

• Girl identifies with mother
• Learning gender role/appropriate behaviour
• Thus enabling a healthy gender development

ORAL

• Receptive - Very trusting, Gullible and Over Dependant
• Agressive - Agressive and Domineering

ANAL

• Retentive - Mean, Stubborn and Obsessively tidy
• Expulsive - Over generous, Untidy and Uncoventional

PHALLIC

• Self assured, Self-obsessive, Vain and Impulsive. Can include sexual deviancy and unusual ways of sexual gratification e.g. fetishes

Advantages

• Evidence to support role of unconscious - Little Hans - Fear of horses linked to Oedipus complex, unconcious displaced his fear. Children use defence mechanisms and imitate/identify with same-sex parents.
• Good pratical applications for mental illnesses. Rather than barbaric medical treatment, talking therapy can be an alternative.

Disadvantages

• Methodological Problems - it's unscientific as the concepts can't be measured or tested e.g. ID
• (Limited) - Does not explain development into adulthood, stops at adolescence. Erikson's psychodynamic theory is from birth to death and how we still develop into old age.
• There is research that contradicts Freud and makes it seem reductionist. Freud suggests not having a same sex parent or two parents will effect the sexual orientation of the child. Malinowski shows boys develop normally without a same sex parent to identify with.