The Oedipus complex in psychoanalysis: reflections on Freud’s clinical cases

Authors

  • Antonella Trotta MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
  • Ivan Formica Department of Cognitive Sciences, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/2018.6.1633

Keywords:

Psychic development, Oedipal structure, Projective identification, Phallic phase, Castration

Abstract

The Oedipus complex represents a key concept of psychoanalytic theory and is one of Freud’s most significant ideas. It constitutes a basic conflict in all humans’ psyche and it defines the structure of individual’s sexual identity. Despite Freud fully recognizing its crucial role in the organization of mental life, he never dedicated to it an entire writing. The Oedipus complex was, in fact, developed in multiple steps and its development cannot be disentangled from events in Freud’s personal and professional life. The aim of this paper is to describe the development of Freud’s concept of the Oedipus complex throughout his writings. Objectives of the study were, first, to provide a description of the theoretical mechanisms and, second, to focus on the Oedipus complex on three of Freud’s clinical cases: Dora, Little Hans and the Wolf-Man.

 

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Published

27-04-2018

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2018)

Section

Psychotherapy

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