the oedipus complex

The names derives from the Classical Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex, in which, Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother.  THE OEDIPUS COMPLEX IS A term given by Freud to describe incestuous feelings that a young boy evolved towards his mother, coupled with a jealousy and rivalry with his father for the affections on the mother.  As the son comes to realise that the father is more powerful than he is, he begins to fear punishment.  The punishment he fears is that the father might castrate him for his incestuous feelings toward the mother.  When the castration anxiety becomes intense, he represses his feelings for the mother and identifies with his father.  this is called identification with the aggressor.  This lessens the chances of being castrated, as the father will no longer see him as a rival.  In this way the boy will attempt to emulate his father.  in so doing, he will internalise the father’s moral standards and develop a superego.