- Characteristics of the latency period
- Substages of the latency period
- Early latency
- Late latency
- References
The latency period is a stage of infantile psychosexual development, when the libido or sexual energy stops and remains in a latent state. It begins around the age of 6, in parallel with the end of the development of the Oedipus complex.
This period corresponds to a stage of development where the evolution of sexuality seems to pause, and culminates with the entrance to puberty, at approximately 12 years of age.
At this stage, the libido or sexual energy seems to remain inactive or latent, reducing the subject's interest in sexuality, depositing him then in asexual activities.
It is in the latency period where the child's psychosexual development is directed and focused on mental and affective development. This stage coincides with the beginning and the first school years of the child.
In this period it seems the child's acquisition of self-esteem, of a feeling of belonging with respect to the peer group and no longer that of the parents, and adaptation to regulated play and school learning.
It is during and towards the end of the latency period that the child begins to forge the characteristics inherent to his personality, which he expresses through his behaviors and conducts in relation to others, in this case his peers.
Characteristics of the latency period
This period is a moment in the life of the subject in which important transformations occur at the psychic level. It is a stage of development where the individual will be more influenced by the surrounding context, becoming more relevant than in previous stages or stages.
In this period the subject develops his intellect, acquires an interest in learning and social relationships. The sexual energy, present in the entire psychosexual development of the child, does not disappear, but falls under repression. The interest now turns to asexual activities.
The libido has not been focused on any erogenous zone of the child, not having a specific goal. This should be understood as the latent state of sexual energy, the main characteristic of the latency period.
The main characteristics of this period are:
-Language becomes the main means of communication and expression.
-There is an increase in the production of fantasies and reflective thinking, in order to restrict the immediate satisfaction of impulses.
-The superego is constituted, which operates as an authority that imposes ethical barriers. With its consolidation, feelings of self-criticism, shame or modesty appear, among others.
-Child sexuality is repressed.
-Culture and social order become relevant in this period, resulting in a possible channel through which the subject can symbolize or channel everything that happens to him.
Substages of the latency period
Within this period, which covers approximately six years in the child's development, two well-differentiated moments can be found, which correspond to the transformations and progress of the human psyche throughout its development.
Early latency
At this substage of the latency period, the psyche is not yet fully developed. Its operation is weak, as impulse control is still unstable. Slowly, the repression of sexual desires is installed and the psyche begins to rearrange itself.
At the same time, the I (a psychic instance related to consciousness) develops and little by little the need for immediate satisfaction of impulses is delayed.
This can be evidenced through the behavior of the children, who in their actions will show postponement and control behaviors, mainly focusing the interest in controlling their motor skills.
Motor activity begins to develop and be put into practice each time, through regulated games and sports, which function as regulators of it, avoiding its overflows.
It is in this period that children access the learning of reading and writing by entering the school system. The possibility that the child becomes distressed and demands the presence of the adult is frequent.
It is also expected in this sub-stage to see that children choose to join those of the same sex, excluding those of the opposite sex.
In relation to obedience, ambivalent behaviors of compliance and rebellion appear, with the latter showing a feeling of guilt generated from the genesis of the Super-ego.
The transition from early latency to late latency occurs around 8 years of age.
Late latency
In this substage, the characteristics of the latency period appear. Among them, there appears a greater balance and more stability between the different psychic instances of the psychic apparatus. This was conceived by Sigmund Freud in his psychoanalytic theory of personality development and child psychosexual development.
It is in this moment of latency where the development of the ego and the superego (psychic instances that are components of the psychic apparatus) is consolidated. As a result, more effective impulse control appears.
The self-control and self-worth acquired through the experiences of achievements, recognition and evaluations by the family and school environment are developed.
Self-criticism appears more severe, so that self-esteem is usually affected and more vulnerable. The child begins to see himself in a more realistic way, recognizing his own weaknesses and strengths.
By recognizing and differentiating the different roles that they play in the various social spaces of which they are a part, the child acquires a more integrated and complex perspective of themselves, strengthening their sense of identity.
In addition to this, he is acquiring the ability to develop different skills and feelings, being aware of them. He manages to separate his rational thinking from his fantasies. And, as a result of all this, he is creating a mark on what his personality traits will be.
In this way, the latency period can be described as a stage of the child's psychosexual development, characterized by the repression of infantile sexuality, where the libido remains in a state of latency, while at the psychic level the new structures of the child develop. psychism.
References
- Fenichel, O. (2014). The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis.
- Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development. (2004, Jul 28). Retrieved from Wilderdom
- George M. Ash, U. o. (1977). Latency and silent period parameters of the masseter muscle in children before, during and after orthodontic treatment. University of Michigan.
- Jean Laplanche, J.-BP (1988). The Language of Psychoanalysis. Karnac Books.
- Leticia Franieck, MG (2010). On Latency: Individual Development, Narcissistic Impulse Reminiscence and Cultural Ideal. Karnac Books.
- Matthew Sharpe, JF (2014). Understanding Psychoanalysis.
- Nagera, H. (2014). Basic Psychoanalytic Concepts on the Libido Theory.
- Reubins, BM (2014). Pioneers of Child Psychoanalysis: Influential Theories and Practices in Healthy Child Development. Karnac Books.
- Stevenson, DB (2001, May 27). Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development. Retrieved from Victorianweb
- Thompson, C. (1957). Psychoanalysis: Evolution and Development. Transaction Publishers.