In Freudian theory, which term describes a girl's competition with her mother for her father's attention?

In Freudian theory, which term describes a girl's competition with her mother for her father's attention?

• A. Oedipus Complex
• B. Resolution Complex
• C. Electra Complex
• D. Phallic Complex

Answer: (C)

During the phallic stage, children grapple with intense feelings toward the opposite-sex parent and see the same-sex parent as a rival. For girls, this pattern is described as the Electra complex, where affection for the father is accompanied by competition with the mother. The idea is that, through resolving these tensions, the girl identifies with the mother and internalizes gender roles, shaping her later relationships and sense of self. This term specifically captures the female version of the Oedipal dynamic. The broader Phallic complex refers to the entire stage, the Oedipus complex to the boy’s version, and “Resolution Complex” isn’t a standard label in Freudian theory.

During the phallic stage, children grapple with intense feelings toward the opposite-sex parent and see the same-sex parent as a rival. For girls, this pattern is described as the Electra complex, where affection for the father is accompanied by competition with the mother. The idea is that, through resolving these tensions, the girl identifies with the mother and internalizes gender roles, shaping her later relationships and sense of self. This term specifically captures the female version of the Oedipal dynamic. The broader Phallic complex refers to the entire stage, the Oedipus complex to the boy’s version, and “Resolution Complex” isn’t a standard label in Freudian theory.