The psychic development of the individual is a short repetition of the course of development of the race

The psychic development of the individual is a short repetition of the course of development of the race

Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, believed that the psychic development of an individual mirrors the course of development of the human race. This concept is known as the recapitulation theory, which suggests that the stages of psychological development that an individual goes through are similar to the stages of development that the human species has gone through over time.

Freud's theory of psychosexual development, which includes the oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital stages, can be seen as a reflection of the evolutionary stages of human development. According to Freud, individuals progress through these stages in a fixed sequence, just as the human race has evolved through various stages over time.

For example, the oral stage, which occurs in infancy, is characterized by the infant's primary focus on oral pleasure and dependency on others for nourishment and care. This stage can be seen as a reflection of the early stages of human evolution when our ancestors were dependent on others for survival and sustenance.

Similarly, the anal stage, which occurs during early childhood, is characterized by the child's focus on control and mastery over their bodily functions. This stage can be seen as a reflection of the development of human civilization, where individuals began to exert control over their environment and establish rules and regulations for social order.

Freud's theory also suggests that unresolved conflicts and experiences from earlier stages of development can influence an individual's psychological development in later stages. This idea can be applied to the evolution of the human race, where past experiences and traumas have shaped the course of human history and continue to influence our behavior and beliefs today.

Overall, Freud's concept of the psychic development of the individual as a repetition of the course of development of the race provides a framework for understanding the interconnectedness of individual psychology and human evolution. By examining the parallels between individual development and the evolution of the human species, we can gain insight into the complex interplay between biology, culture, and psychology in shaping human behavior and identity.