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Psychodynamics or psychodynamic theory refers to a group of ideas that are the same in one way. These theories say that many things that can change how people act and feel are not things that the people know about and can easily talk about. These fears, wishes, or conflicts are said to be unconscious. If people know about a thing and have words to talk about it, we say that they are conscious of that thing. If someone did not have words, but could draw a picture of something, we would also say that they are conscious of that thing. Something is called unconscious in psychodynamic theory if it changes how people act and feel but the people cannot say why they are feeling the way they feel or acting the way they act. Babies and young children cannot talk to other people or to themselves. Because they do not have words until they grow up, they do not remember many things that happened or that made them feel bad. Some psychodynamic theories say that things that babies and young children want, but do not get, stay in their minds as unconscious wishes. Some psychodynamic theories say that things that upset or hurt babies and young children stay in their minds as unconscious fears. Unconscious wishes and unconscious fears are some of the kinds of unconscious things that these theories say can make people feel bad. Some important psychodynamic theorists were Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Anna Freud and Melanie Klein. Sigmund Freud believed that issues in adulthood were the result of not completing one of his stages in childhood. This is also known as psychosexual development. There were five stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.

The first stage in psychosexual development is the oral stage. The body part associated with this stage is the mouth. This stage most commonly occurs in children from the ages of 0-18 months. The early task of this stage is feeding which is later associated with personality traits such as dependent and oral incorporative. If fixated in this stage, as an adult, he or she will commonly be a smoker, and enjoy eating, drinking, and kissing. In adulthood, he or she may tend to collect things, be a good listener, and be a gullible person. The later task of this stage is weening which corresponds to oral sadistic personality and aggressive behavior. The adulthood activities associated with the later portion of this stage are gum-chewing, nail biting, and overeating. As an adult, he or she may be sarcastic, cynical,and tend to ridicule others.

Once the oral stage has been completed, the child enters the next stage, known as the anal stage. The region of the body associated with this stage is the anus. Children partake in this stage from 1 to 3 years of age. The early task of this stage is feces explosion. If fixated in this stage the child will grow up to develop personality traits such as anal-explosive, self-confident, uninhibited, and resistant to authority. A lack of sphincter control, bowel control, and commonly wetting the bed are activities associated with the adult fixation in this portion of the oral stage. As an adult, he or she may be over generous and creative. The later task of this stage is feces retention which coincides with personality traits such as anal retentiveness, rigid, compulsive, and the constant strive of living up to others. Constipation is the most common activities associated adult fixation in the later part of the anal stage. Once adulthood is reached, he or she will be stingy, orderly, stubborn, and a perfectionist.

The third stage in psychodynamic development is the phallic stage; associated with the genitals. This stage occurs in children from the ages of 2 to 5 years old. Girls and boys have different experiences during this stage. Boys experience the Oedipus complex, and castration anxiety. In adulthood, boys will be hyper-masculine, and express a high concern for virility. When fixated in this stage they will grow to take interest in things such as power tools, trucks, cars, and large machinery. During the phallic stage girls also experience the Oedipus complex however they experience penis envy rather than castration. If fixated in this stage girls will become hyper-feminine, flirtatious and seductive. Promiscuity, castration of men, and male-bashing are also associated with female fixation in the phallic stage.

After the phallic stage, children enter into the latency stage. There is no particular body part or region associated with this stage. Children progress through this stage from the age of 5 until they reach puberty. This stage is a period of psychological rest for children, where they cannot be fixated.

The final stage of psychodynamic development is the genital stage, which is also not associated with any particular region of the body. The main task in this stage is to marry, procreate, and become a productive member of society.

Psychodynamic therapy- focuses on unconscious thought processes which manifest themselves in a client's behavior. The approach seeks to increase a client's self-awareness and understanding of how the past has influenced present thoughts and behaviors, by exploring their unconscious patterns(1). References: 1 - Counseling Directory-Psychoanalytical and psychodynamic therapies- http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/psychoanalytical.html