A colleague, Alex, is under a lot of stress at work. You notice that he chain-smokes, constantly chews on his pens, and often overeats during his lunch break. According to the principles of psychosexual development, an unresolved conflict from which period of early life is most likely the underlying cause of Alex's behaviors? Explain your reasoning.

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In Freudian theory, an oral fixation can develop if the conflicts of the oral stage, particularly weaning, are not properly resolved. This fixation may manifest in adulthood through mouth-related habits such as smoking, overeating, drinking, or nail-biting. These behaviors are considered attempts to alleviate anxiety stemming from the unresolved developmental issues.

Oral Fixation

Applying Psychodynamic Theory to Behavior

Based on the principles of how unresolved conflicts in the earliest stage of life (from birth to approximately one year) can influence adult personality, provide a psychoanalytic explanation for the behaviors described in the case study below.

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