Oedipus Complex
The Oedipus complex, or Oedipal complex, is one of Freud’s most famous theories. Even if you don’t know anything else about the psychologist, you’ve probably heard it mentioned. And yet, chances are, you aren’t quite sure what it means. It has something weird to do with desiring your mother, right? Kind of, but not exactly. Freud’s theory is nuanced and complicated, and this is one the most controversial aspects of his belief system, but it’s worth learning about because it can give insight into a whole host of psychological terms. Oedipus in Historical Literature The name for the Oedipus complex comes from the Greek myth by Sophocles. In this story, Oedipus doesn’t know who his real parents are. He grows up, goes through a series of tragic experiences, and ultimately discovers that he has married his birth mother and murdered his birth father. It’s an ancient soap opera. Psychosexual Stages of Development We’ll return to the Oedipus complex in a moment. First, though, we need to j
