The Oedipus complex

Freud thought that guilt played a fundamental role in the psyche and operates unconsciously

• The sexual drive was the most basic instinct and most capable of causing major psychological problems
• In his account of the primal horde, Freud realised that the power of the sons' bitterness towards the father stemmed from the fact that he was preventing their sexual desires from being fulfilled
• This sexual frustration, conflict with the father and feelings of guilt are hidden  deep in the unconscious, but can be identified in a child's psychosexual development between the ages of 3 and 6 (the Oedipus complex)

Freud held the opinion that boys aged between 3 and 6 have a sort of love affair with their mothers

• At this…