Libidinal Development

At different stages of development, the source of the impulses will change; Freud talks about erogenous zones. Each drive will be connected to a function: for example, the oral stage, the function of the impulse is to feed. there may be satisfaction or frustration of the drive.

There are different stages to describe the libidinal development of the individual. All stages are not consecutive, they fit together and can persist. Two defense mechanisms may be at work: the fixation and regression:

* There may be mounting at a libidinal stage when there is no passage to the next stage, particularly because the current stage brings great satisfaction.

* There may be regression when the subject in advance stages and then declining at an earlier stage because they encounter too much frustration.