At what age does the oral psychosexual stage occur?

The oral psychosexual stage, according to Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, occurs from birth to approximately one year of age. During this stage, an infant's primary source of interaction with the world comes through the mouth, focusing on activities such as sucking and biting. This stage is crucial for the development of trust and comfort, as the infant's needs for nourishment and oral stimulation must be met. Successful navigation of this stage leads to the development of a sense of security and the ability to derive pleasure from oral activities. If this stage is not adequately resolved, it may lead to challenges in later stages of development, particularly concerning dependency and independence.

The other age ranges correspond to Freud's subsequent stages: the anal stage occurs roughly between one and three years, the phallic stage occurs between three and five years, and the latency stage takes place from six to twelve years. Each of these stages involves different developmental focuses and potential issues based on the child's experiences during those formative years.