Mary is a smoker and has trouble quitting. How would Freud explain her problem?
A) Her mother potty-trained her too soon in childhood.
B) Her mother spanked her in anger.
C) There was a problem when her mother weaned her.
D) She is under too much stress and needs to learn to relax.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Freud would likely explain Mary's smoking problem as stemming from issues during the oral stage of psychosexual development, which includes behaviors related to the mouth such as sucking and biting. Problems during weaning can lead to an oral fixation in adulthood, manifesting as smoking, overeating, or nail-biting.

Mary Is a Smoker and Has Trouble Quitting