AP Psychology Practice Test 2025 - Free AP Psychology Practice Questions and Study Guide

Question: 1 / 530

What is called when pleasure-seeking energies remain focused on an earlier stage due to unresolved conflicts?

Repression

Oedipus complex

Fixation

The term that describes the phenomenon where pleasure-seeking energies remain focused on an earlier stage due to unresolved conflicts is fixation. In the context of psychosexual development, fixation occurs when an individual does not fully resolve the conflicts associated with a particular stage of development, such as oral, anal, or phallic stages as proposed by Sigmund Freud. This inability to move on can lead to behaviors and personality traits that reflect those earlier stages, influencing adulthood in ways that may manifest as compulsive behaviors or difficulties in relationships.

For example, someone who fixates at the oral stage may develop habits like smoking or overeating, which are linked to oral fixation. Understanding this concept is important in psychodynamic theory as it highlights how early experiences and conflicts can shape adult behavior and personality.

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