Posted: Apr 04, 2010 1:07 pm
I think Freud draws a lot of dismissive criticism because some interpretations of the Oedipus complex are so incorrect and offensive. If you say "Sigmund Freud" to the man on the street he immediately thinks "Oedipus complex" - and runs a mile away from psychology total.
I think the Oedipus complex is best explained in terms of a generalised attraction toward the parent of the opposite sex caused by behavioural characteristics that make up "the happy home" like the parts of a jigsaw puzzle. So people look for characteristics in potential partners which their opposite sex parent had. They feel no erotic desire for the parent (that wouldn't make sense given the negative consequences of incest) and don't actually want to have sex with them, however. Castration anxiety doesn't really make sense either - what right minded father would want to newter his son and so what son would fear that? Freud presented these things poorely it seems and yet that is not commonly accepted for some reason. Probably because of those "strict Freudians" who dogmatically believe every word he wrote. The wonderful tales of Freud
in the hospital.
I don't think it's possibel to bin the term "Oedipus complex" because it rings true in some ways - it's tied in with reproduction but nothing hot and heavy or erotic - people are attracted to people like their parent of the opposite sex though. The Oedipus complex doesn't even mean the Oedipus complex in common lingo perhaps. Meh, maybe the Oedipus complex is so wrong we'd all be better off if it were in the bin. Beats me.
I think the Oedipus complex is best explained in terms of a generalised attraction toward the parent of the opposite sex caused by behavioural characteristics that make up "the happy home" like the parts of a jigsaw puzzle. So people look for characteristics in potential partners which their opposite sex parent had. They feel no erotic desire for the parent (that wouldn't make sense given the negative consequences of incest) and don't actually want to have sex with them, however. Castration anxiety doesn't really make sense either - what right minded father would want to newter his son and so what son would fear that? Freud presented these things poorely it seems and yet that is not commonly accepted for some reason. Probably because of those "strict Freudians" who dogmatically believe every word he wrote. The wonderful tales of Freud
in the hospital. I don't think it's possibel to bin the term "Oedipus complex" because it rings true in some ways - it's tied in with reproduction but nothing hot and heavy or erotic - people are attracted to people like their parent of the opposite sex though. The Oedipus complex doesn't even mean the Oedipus complex in common lingo perhaps. Meh, maybe the Oedipus complex is so wrong we'd all be better off if it were in the bin. Beats me.