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Glite Dictionary
phallic phase

phallic phase

9.9
A stage in early childhood when a child focuses on private parts and notices body differences between boys and girls
  • noun
  • /ˈfælɪk feɪz/
  • NSFW
translation icon : fase fálica
  • According to Freudian theory, the phallic phase occurs between the ages of three and six.

Examples

  • During the phallic phase, children explore their bodies.

  • Psychologists debated the impact of experiences during the phallic phase on adult personality.

  • Some critics question the validity of the concept of the phallic phase in modern developmental psychology.

  • The phallic phase is crucial for understanding gender identity.

  • According to Freudian theory, the phallic phase occurs between the ages of three and six.

  • During the phallic phase, children become aware of anatomical sex differences and their significance.

  • Psychologists often study the effects of the phallic phase on later psychological development.

Synonyms

phallic stage
vsphallic phase
  • NSFW
9.9

A stage in early childhood when a child's private parts become a main focus of pleasure and curiosity

omits age detail and instead mentions awareness of anatomical sex differences

Surface Forms

phallic phase singular
phallic phases plural

Morphology

phallic + phase

The meaning is directly compositional: 'phase' = a stage and 'phallic' = pertaining to phallic (genital/penile) matters, so the term denotes a developmental stage focused on phallic concerns. Although it is a technical psychoanalytic term, its sense is predictable from the constituents rather than idiomatic, so a learner who knows both words can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Phallic phase comes from phallic, which traces to the word 'phallus' meaning the penis, and phase, meaning a 'stage' of growth. So it names the time when a child notices body differences and focuses on the genitals, which is why the phrase means that early stage of development.