Which Freud stage corresponds to ages 3-6 and involves genitals?

• A. Oral
• B. Anal
• C. Phallic
• D. Latent

Answer: (C)

The stage where libido centers on the genitals and children are most aware of gender differences occurs roughly from ages 3 to 6. This is the phallic stage. During this period, children explore and become curious about their bodies, and Freud described the emergence of early dynamics around parental figures—the Oedipus complex for boys and the Electra complex for girls. Resolution happens as the child identifies with the same-sex parent, which helps form a beginning sense of gender identity and the superego.

Earlier stages are the oral stage (mouth-focused, from birth to about 18 months) and the anal stage (toilet-training phase, roughly 18 months to 3 years). After the phallic stage, the latent stage (about 6 years to puberty) is a calmer period with less focus on sexual development. So the phase that fits ages 3–6 and centers on genitals is the phallic stage.