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Oedipus complex – an aspect of Sigmund Freud's developmental theory

Started by Benjamin Price8 · · 👁 5 views · 53 replies

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Participants Benjamin Price8frozenangler9restlessmarlin6Walter Myers4Anthony Harris14northerntrucker42
Benjamin Price8 Benjamin Price8 MemberOP
28 messages
joined Mar 2005
#1 ·
Nobody's gotten back to me on this yet. ovom So, I’m throwing this out there to the group... do you guys think Freud was actually tripping when he suggested women deal with the Oedipus complex—specifically that whole idea of being envious of us men because of our anatomy? Like, was he being literal about the physical envy part?

Oedipus complex – an aspect of Sigmund Freud's developmental theory According to an aspect of Sigmund Freud's developmental theory, Freud argued that as girls develop, they undergo a fundamental shift. They move away from seeing their mother as the primary object of affection and pivot toward the father instead. This transition supposedly involves a physical shift too—moving focus from the clitoris to the vagina as the central genital zone. Freud suggested that at about the age of four, a girl first realizes she lacks a penis. In his view, she ends up blaming her mother for this perceived deficiency, which hits her self-esteem hard. He claimed this realization leads a girl to abandon clitoral sexuality entirely in favor of turning to her father as her love object. To be honest, this specific aspect of Freud’s theory has been absolutely hammered with criticism over the years, especially by feminist psychoanalysts who find the whole premise deeply flawed.

My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday : We all know about men ; they masturbate My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday : We all know about men ; they masturbate

We all know about men; they masturbate. Little boys and...
Masturbation is a totally normal thing, and honestly, there's something kind of charming about it being a part of a woman's life.
Just those magazine stories about how little boys act. I guess that's really all there is to it.
We’ve all read enough to know the drill—that stage where little boys start discovering what they're working with.
And then there's that whole thing about getting caught. There’s something almost charming about it.
But what about women? We’re just as tucked away as our own anatomy. By the time...
We finally tracked them down, tucked away up there. It feels like we're guilty just for having them.
I finally tracked them down. Honestly, if they were actually intended to be discovered and enjoyed, wouldn't they have been easier to find?
Is it just out there in the open, dangling and swinging around like a dick?
It’s honestly no surprise that little girls struggle with the Oedipus complex – an aspect of Sigmund Freud's developmental theory.

...

I honestly find myself more drawn to the whole concept of masturbation—both sides of it, really.
When you look at the breakdown of sexualities, there's a clear distinction between heterosexual dynamics and lesbianism. To me, the latter isn't some separate entity; it’s really just a subset of the broader spectrum of sexual expression.
What I'm trying to say is that I've always been captivated by men, and I would...
I don't ever want to live with a woman. I still remember being a kid, maybe around the age of four...
Seven years old, and there I was, catching a glimpse of my dad and a few of his buddies out back, just relieving themselves.
Out behind a barn. Penis envy was my first fantasy, and how I wanted one.
One. I used to think that if Daddy put his penis between my legs...
I used to think that I’d eventually grow one myself. To me, men—and specifically their anatomy—are...
Fascinating stuff. Sometimes I find myself thinking about how much I’d love to actually "catch" my...
I’ve been thinking lately about watching my husband masturbate—not just out of curiosity, but to really witness the intensity of his actions and that raw sense of passion. There's something about seeing that private side of him, uninhibited and focused, that feels like uncovering a hidden layer of our intimacy. It's less about being a voyeur and more about wanting to understand that part of him that usually stays behind closed doors.
When he finally had the house to himself and didn't have to worry about anyone watching, he could truly be himself.
I’ve noticed that as time passes, and especially once we actually start vocalizing them, our fantasies begin to shift.
And maybe our intimate lives would actually start improving. Honestly, I just wish we had been more open with each other from the beginning.
Earlier. [Taped interview]
frozenangler9 frozenangler9 Active Member
82 messages
joined Jun 2008
#2 ·
Honestly, a penis isn't really something girls would be jealous of when it comes to guys. Just some weird little thing, kind of in the wrong spot. At least, that's how it seemed to me back when I was a kid. 😁 😁

Then again, aside from that useless, annoying bit of anatomy 😛, it felt like being a guy had its perks—mostly because I figured boys generally get way more freedom and people are way more chill about them acting out. 😉

But what actually feels like a male advantage to me now? It’s the whole physical look and sexual appeal thing. Honestly, if I ever hit my fifties, I’d probably swap genders in a heartbeat. 🙂
Benjamin Price8 Benjamin Price8 MemberOP
28 messages
joined Mar 2005
#3 ·
thanks for your expert take 😁

but honestly, I feel like Freud was getting at something else entirely... it isn't really about jealousy, it’s more like a specific kind of craving, similar to how guys can't keep their eyes off breasts 😁 ...I guess he was just trying to figure out where that desire actually comes from
restlessmarlin6 restlessmarlin6 Active Member
219 messages
joined Oct 2003
#4 ·
It honestly blows my mind how Sigmund Freud managed to exert such a massive influence on modern psychology with those absolutely wild theories of his.

I mean, Jung eats him for breakfast.

The whole idea that everything boils down to some sexual underlying motive? To me—and I’m emphasizing ME here—it's just complete and utter nonsense.
Benjamin Price8 Benjamin Price8 MemberOP
28 messages
joined Mar 2005
#5 ·
Look, we aren't actually talking about him... so just bring some actual arguments to the table... and as for Jung, I find him fascinating with all those telepathic delusions regarding the collective unconscious 🙄
frozenangler9 frozenangler9 Active Member
82 messages
joined Jun 2008
#6 ·
Benjamin Price8 said:It’s not even really jealousy—it’s more like a craving, similar to how guys can't take their eyes off boobs 😁 ...I guess he was just trying to figure out where that drive comes from.

Eeee, wanting a penis is a whole different ballgame. 🙏

It’s a desire to have it inside you, not just on you. 😁

And honestly, that feeling doesn't usually pop up during early childhood—it hits a bit later.

Freud was just as biased against women as any other puritanical guy out there. 😉
Walter Myers4 Walter Myers4 Regular
355 messages
joined May 2004
#7 ·
I’m officially done being jealous like I used to be. I’ve finally just accepted that life is gonna kick my ass, and honestly? It’s not even that bad once you stop fighting it.👍
Benjamin Price8 Benjamin Price8 MemberOP
28 messages
joined Mar 2005
#8 ·
frozenangler9 said:Look, wanting a penis is a whole different ballgame. 🙏

It’s about wanting to possess it inside yourself, rather than just having it on you. 😁

And honestly, that craving doesn't usually pop up during early childhood; it hits a bit later on.

😉Freud was just as much of a puritan when it came to women as anyone else.

So basically, he's framing this envy not because women actually want a penis, but because they're supposedly forced to give up the clitoris—which he views as an undeveloped penis, whatever that's supposed to mean... I guess he's trying to say that up to a certain age, women want to be the ones doing the penetrating instead of being penetrated 😁 ....hmm
Benjamin Price8 Benjamin Price8 MemberOP
28 messages
joined Mar 2005
#9 ·
Walter Myers4 said:I’m not even jealous anymore. I’ve finally just accepted that I’m the one getting screwed over, and honestly, it’s not even that bad.👍

But I don't get why women even have to "accept" anything in the first place.🤔 ...does this actually have something to do with the clitoris?😕
Walter Myers4 Walter Myers4 Regular
355 messages
joined May 2004
#10 ·
Benjamin Price8 said:I just don't get why women even need to make peace with anything🤔 ...like, what does that actually have to do with the clitoris? 😕

Look, I don't know how it connects, but back when I was a kid, I was obsessed with being one of the guys. I used to constantly badger boys to show me what they were working with... I just refused to play along with some stupid "girl" role, if you catch my drift. Would *you* ever want to be the girl? Honestly. You just fight against yourself until you finally accept who you are and realize you can't escape your own skin. Then, eventually, you start looking for the perks of being a woman and realize the solution might actually be in the bedroom... and suddenly, you can have whatever kind of guy you want.👍
Benjamin Price8 Benjamin Price8 MemberOP
28 messages
joined Mar 2005
#11 ·
Walter Myers4 said:I’m not entirely sure how this all connects, but looking back at my childhood, I was constantly trying to be masculine. I used to push guys to prove what they actually had going for them... I just refused to accept some silly, traditional female role, if you know what I mean. I'd ask them, "Would you ever want to be a woman?" It's like you spend your whole life fighting against yourself until you finally accept your biology and realize you can't escape who you are. Then, eventually, you start looking for the upside to being in that position—and you realize the answer might just lie in sex... specifically, realizing you can have whatever kind of anatomy you want.👍

Honestly, why should you force yourself to settle for something that doesn't feel natural? Maybe you're just a lesbian😁... or maybe you genuinely want to be "masculine"
... seriously.
I just don't know if every woman out there has gone through the exact same thing you did.
frozenangler9 frozenangler9 Active Member
82 messages
joined Jun 2008
#12 ·
Benjamin Price8 said:So basically, he's hinting at that envy—not because women actually want a penis, but because they're supposedly forced to give up a clitoris since it's just an underdeveloped version of one... whatever that's supposed to mean... I guess he's trying to say that up to a certain point, women want to be the ones doing the penetrative part rather than being the ones getting penetrated 😁 ....hmmm

Don't even waste your energy on that theory. It doesn't prove anything other than the fact that Mr. Freud didn't have a clue when it came to female sexuality. Not that anyone expected much else back then, I guess. 🙂
Walter Myers4 Walter Myers4 Regular
355 messages
joined May 2004
#13 ·
Benjamin Price8 said:Why on earth would you try to force yourself to be okay with something that just isn't who you are? Maybe you're a lesbian... 😁 or maybe you just want to be "masculine"... I'm dead serious here.

The only thing I don't know is if all those women went through the exact same thing you did.

Only the smart ones... the rest probably didn't even realize what was happening. 😁
restlessmarlin6 restlessmarlin6 Active Member
219 messages
joined Oct 2003
#14 ·
Benjamin Price8 said:Look, we aren't actually talking about him... so just try using actual arguments... and as far as Jung goes, I find his whole telepathic nonsense regarding the collective unconscious absolutely fascinating. 🙄

Personally, I think Jung is one of the most captivating historical figures out there. His work really fleshes out and expands my own way of thinking. 🙂 It basically opens up new paths for me to grow mentally.

The whole point isn't to just swallow an entire theory whole and take it as gospel. The point is that these specific theories should spark your own independent thought process.
I mean, I'm not even sure if this collective consciousness thing actually exists, and I'm just as skeptical about the Oedipus and Electra complexes. The only difference is that, right now, Jung offers theories that feel more coherent and better argued—though who knows, that might change.

Alright, alright, I guess I'm drifting off-topic here, my bad. 🙂

Freud lived in an era where women were socially positioned well below men, so that whole premise—that WOMEN HAVE NOTHING TO ENVY MEN FOR—really just stems from that specific social context.

Okay 🙂, if we set Freud aside for a second—I don't see why a woman would biologically have any drive to be male? In fact, if we're following that logic to its conclusion, there are some theories out there suggesting men are practically redundant (which, if you ask me, is also complete and utter nonsense 😵).
Women could essentially carry on the species on their own. 🙂 We can dive into that debate if you want.

Anyway, okay, and finally, if we're veering completely away from the topic—do you have any SEXUAL problems? 😁

👋
restlessmarlin6 restlessmarlin6 Active Member
219 messages
joined Oct 2003
#15 ·
Walter Myers4 said:Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what the connection is here, but looking back at when I was just a kid, I was constantly trying to act masculine. I used to push guys to prove themselves to me... I just couldn't bring myself to accept some stupid "female role," if you know what I mean. Like, would you even want to be a woman? It feels like you just fight against yourself until you finally accept who you are and realize you can't escape your own skin. Then eventually, you start looking for the perks of that ungrateful position and realize the answer might actually lie in sex... and that you can finally have whatever kind of penis you want.👍

Give me a break.

Define "stupid female role" for me, please. 🙏
Benjamin Price8 Benjamin Price8 MemberOP
28 messages
joined Mar 2005
#16 ·
frozenangler9 said:Don't waste your energy on that theory. It doesn't amount to much besides proving that Mr. Freud had a pretty shaky grasp on female sexuality. Not exactly surprising given the era, though. 🙂

I mean, sure, he probably missed the mark on a lot of things, but I still get the feeling his work isn't entirely without merit.
Walter Myers4 Walter Myers4 Regular
355 messages
joined May 2004
#17 ·
Why are you girls getting all worked up? Honestly, wouldn't it be smarter if we just came out and admitted we're actually jealous of their 🙄 junk, and then let them admit they've been dying to have vaginas all along? 😁
restlessmarlin6 restlessmarlin6 Active Member
219 messages
joined Oct 2003
#18 ·
Natch said:Honestly, why is everyone getting so worked up? Wouldn't it be way smarter if we just came out and admitted we're all secretly jealous of their 🙄 junk, so they could finally admit they've been craving vaginas this whole time? 😁

Oh, really? Is that how you see it? 😁

Most of them have already gotten what they wanted a long time ago. 😁
Benjamin Price8 Benjamin Price8 MemberOP
28 messages
joined Mar 2005
#19 ·
Natch said:just the smart ones... others might be there, they just haven't realized it yet😁

from what I can tell, it sounds like you're having some issues with sex too😁...maybe consider if you've just been forced into a role that doesn't actually fit who you are
Anthony Harris14 Anthony Harris14 Active Member
63 messages
joined Aug 2004
#20 ·
Jung started out under Freud’s wing before eventually breaking away from him—and while plenty of analysts have contributed since then, you really have to give it to Freud and Jung for laying the foundation. They spent decades refining their theories, so it stands to reason there’s still some deep-seated truth left behind that they never quite fully unraveled or grasped the true essence of.

There is this common trope about how the man is supposed to be the head of the household, which leads to those metaphors where a man is called a "pushover" because his wife is effectively "running the show"—it’s quite possible there’s a cultural link there between holding power and having a penis. 🙄 😕

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