The mother of a 4-year-old male tells the clinic nurse that her son asked her about the differences in his anatomy and that of his baby sister.The nurse reassures the mother that this is normal behavior for her son because the child is in which of Freud's developmental stages?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During the phallic stage (ages 3-6 years old), children become curious about the differences in genitalia between males and females, and may start to identify with their same-sex parent as a way of resolving the Oedipus or Electra complex. Therefore, it is normal for a 4-year-old male to ask about the differences between his and his baby sister's anatomy.

The Mother of a 4-Year-Old Male Tells the Clinic Nurse