Erikson, Piaget & Psychology Theories & Concepts Explained

Social Comparison Theory: Upward vs. Downward Social Comparison, Festinger & Social Media

Social comparison theory, proposed by Leon Festinger in 1954, explains why people instinctively measure themselves against others. Festinger’s central argument was simple but powerful: when objective standards for evaluating our abilities and opinions are unavailable, we turn to other people as our measuring stick. The theory identifies two main directions of comparison. Upward social comparison — comparing yourself to someone...

Instinct Theory of Motivation: McDougall’s Instinct Theory, William James & How Biology Drives Behavior

The instinct theory of motivation proposes that much of human behavior is driven by innate, biologically programmed tendencies inherited through evolution — not by conscious choice or learned conditioning. The theory reached its peak influence in the early twentieth century through the work of William James, who argued humans have more instincts than other animals, and William McDougall, whose instinct...

The Phallic Stage of Development: Oedipus Complex, Electra Complex & What They Mean

The phallic stage of development is the third of Freud’s five psychosexual stages, occurring between ages three and six. During this stage, the child’s libidinal energy centers on the genitals, and the child becomes aware of anatomical differences between boys and girls. This awareness triggers the most controversial conflicts in all of psychoanalytic theory: the Oedipus complex in boys and...

Kurt Lewin’s Field Theory: What “The Field” in Psychology Really Means

In psychology, “the field” refers to the idea that behavior cannot be explained by looking at a person alone or an environment alone — only by examining both together, at the same moment in time. This is the central argument of Kurt Lewin’s field theory, developed in the 1930s and 1940s and summarized in one of psychology’s most elegant equations:...

The Oedipus Complex: Freud’s Boy-Mum Theory, Castration Anxiety & Resolution Explained

The Oedipus complex is Sigmund Freud’s theory that boys between the ages of three and six develop an unconscious emotional and sexual attachment to their mother — and an unconscious rivalry with their father. Often referred to informally as the boy-mum theory, it sits at the center of Freud’s psychosexual model of development. The idea sounds provocative, even absurd, on...

The Latency Stage: Freud’s Period of Sexual Dormancy, Sublimation & Social Development

The latency stage is the fourth phase of Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual development theory, spanning from approximately age 6 until the onset of puberty. Unlike the earlier stages, the latency period is characterized by the repression of sexual impulses. During this time, the child’s libido is dormant, and their energy is redirected into “asexual” activities such as schoolwork, hobbies, and developing...