Five-year-old Maxwell has recently been going through the Oedipus complex. He has been unconsciously resentful of his father because of his father's "possession" of Maxwell's mother. According to Freud, Maxwell fears that if his father learns of these feelings, which punishment will be delivered?
A) Maxwell's father will leave, abandoning Maxwell and his mother.
B) Maxwell's father will cut off Maxwell's penis.
C) Maxwell's father will take Maxwell's mother away to a new home.
D) Maxwell's father will insist on having a new child with which to "replace" Maxwell.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Freud's theory, during the Oedipus complex, a boy fears castration by his father as punishment for his feelings of desire for his mother and jealousy towards his father. This is known as castration anxiety.

Five-Year-Old Maxwell Has Recently Been Going Through the Oedipus Complex