In the classic sitcom The Odd Couple, it was amazing that Oscar and Felix got along, because Oscar was such a slob and Felix was so obsessively neat. From a Freudian perspective, what could be said about the way these two men made it through the anal stage of development?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Freudian theory, the anal stage of development occurs from ages 2-3 and is focused on the child's ability to control their bowel movements. The child's experience during this stage can lead to fixation or overemphasis on either cleanliness and order (an anal retentive personality) or messiness and disorder (an anal expulsive personality). Oscar's slobbish behavior suggests that he may have an anal expulsive personality, while Felix's obsessively neat behavior suggests he may have an anal retentive personality, indicating that they were both anally fixated but in opposite ways.

In the Classic Sitcom the Odd Couple, It Was Amazing