oral stage

in the classical psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud, the first stage of psychosexual development, occupying the 1st year of life, in which the libido is concentrated on the mouth as the principal erotic zone. The stage is divided into the early oral-sucking phase, during which gratification is achieved by sucking the nipple during feeding, and the later oral-biting phase, when gratification is also achieved by biting. Fixation during each of these phases is posited to cause a particular type of oral personality. Also called oral phase. See also oral eroticism.

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Psychology term of the day

April 27th 2024

International Military Testing Association

an organization that, since its founding in 1959, has held conferences on the job proficiency evaluation of enlisted military personnel and increasingly on research relevant to behavioral science as applied to the military (e.g., occupational analysis, leadership, organizational behavior, human factors, manpower analysis). Originally called the Military Testing Association, the organization changed its name in 1993 to reflect the increasing involvement of countries around the world. Participants include civilian as well as uniformed researchers and practitioners.