Infantile bisexuality and the 'complete oedipal complex': Freudian views on heterosexuality and homosexuality.
In the psychoanalytical discussion of what is 'mature' sexuality we speak of the 'genital' stage and the 'resolution' of the oedipal complex in the form of identification with the parent of the same sex and a heterosexually-directed object choice. A close reading of Freud's texts about sexuality shows that such a normative view cannot be corroborated by his viewpoint. He suggests that infantile sexuality is bisexually orientated, the final object choice due to repression of either homosexual or heterosexual desires. As Freud puts it, genital heterosexuality occurs out of necessity for procreation. In order to enrich the present psychoanalytical discussion about homosexuality and bisexuality the author returns to Freud's theories in this context.
University of Louvain, 10 place du Cardinal Mercier, B-1348 Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium. susann.wolff@uclouvain.be
Susann
S
Heenen-Wolff
D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005619:Freudian Theory; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009813:Oedipus Complex; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology