His name was Sigmund Freud, and the theory of the Oedipal conflict/attachment wasn't about reproduction, WayoftheLeaf, it was about children's unconscious desire for the parent of the opposite sex, a phase they go through in early childhood and which Freud believed could be the origin of childhood and adult neuroses. Freud was also the one who defined the early childhood phases with names (oral, anal, phallic) and believed that trouble in those phases accounted for different character fixations later in life. According to Papa Freud, Oedipal conflicts arise during the phallic stage of children's development from age 3 to 7.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_complex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosexual_development

Oedipal and psychosexual development theory is complex, and much of it is no longer subscribed to in modern psychology, although Freudian psychiatrists and analysts are still heavily invested in most of it. We studied Freud's theories (and many others) earlier this past semester in my medical psychopathology class.
birdgirl73 Reviewed by birdgirl73 on . Weird (perhaps sick) thought on sexual taboos... Ok, I was harping on this guy (in a playful way) who was complaining he was whacking off too much. I told him if he didnt want to whack off just think of his parents having sex. Ok, I dont want to think of my parents having sex but it got me to thinking what is so wrong about 'parents having sex'? Is this just a USA thing or is this more or less universal? I mean, if your parents didnt have SEX then you obviously wouldnt be here... So again, why is it we have such a aversion to the thought Rating: 5