The castration complex according to psychoanalysis

The castration complex is one of the central concepts of psychoanalysis. It is closely linked to the Oedipus complex. The first to refer to this psychic reality was precisely the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. Other psychoanalysts have made very interesting developments on this topic, such as Jacques Lacan. However, in this article we are going to refer to it from classical theory.

Obviously, the castration complex does not refer to a kind of anatomical mutilation. It is actually a very intense psychic experience that is generally experienced for the first time between 3 and 5 years of age. However, this unconscious experience is repeated at various times in life, particularly when defense mechanisms come into play.

The castration complex It occurs in both boys and girls, although each gender experience it differently. Thanks to this psychic experience, the child learns to differentiate the sexes and recognizes for the first time the notion of impossible desires.

The castration complex in men

In 1908, Freud spoke for the first time about the castration complex in children. He describes it from the case of “Juanito” or “Little Juan”. Describe that this process psychic takes place in four moments or times, until its resolution.

The four times that Freud describes are:

Premise initial. The boy discovers that he has a penis and develops the idea that “everyone has a penis.”The threat, second half. By virtue of the Oedipus complex, the child wants to take the father’s place in front of the mother. He makes gestures that confirm this, while presenting manifestations of autoeroticism. He receives threats and bans for this. He implicitly constructs the idea that castration is the eventual punishment that awaits her if she persists in his desires and behaviors.Third period, discovery of absence. The boy discovers that the female anatomy is different: women do not have a penis. He does not assume that they “have” a vagina, but rather that they have been stripped of their penis. He associates that reality with imagined threats: he believes that the absence of a penis is a castrationFourth time, anguish. The boy discovers that his mother is a woman and, therefore, does not have a penis. Castration anxiety then arises, which is experienced unconsciously.

Once the child has gone through these four stages comes a final phase of resolution. Both the castration complex and the Oedipus complex. It takes place when the child renounces taking the father’s place with the mother. In other words, he renounces the mother and takes advantage of the paternal law.. She does it to resolve his castration anxiety. He assumes, always unconsciously, that if he persists he would be stripped of his penis.

The castration complex in the girl

The castration complex in girls has several points in common with that of boys.. The first is that the girl also starts from the premise that everyone has a penis. Likewise, the mother plays a very important role for her, she is the center of her love. However, the process follows a different path.

Let’s see the differences, in terms of each of the moments:

Initial premise. The premise remains that everyone has a penis. The girl assumes that the clitoris is a penis.Discovery of the difference. The girl notices that her clitoris is too small to be a penis. She then assumes that she was castrated and she wishes this had not happened.Third time. The girl discovers that her mother does not have a penis of hers either and she blames her both for not having it and for having transmitted that lack to her.

The resolution of the castration complex in the girl can take three different paths. The first of them is the acceptance that he does not have a penis and distancing himself from sexuality. The second is the maintenance of the desire to have a penis. It is the denial of castration and leads to homosexuality.

The third way out is a more complete solution of the castration complex. The girl accepts that she does not have a penis. This leads to the mother ceasing to be the center of her affections and these being reoriented towards the father. Likewise, a shift in libido occurs: the desire to possess a penis becomes a desire to enjoy a penis during intercourse. Finally, that desire to enjoy a penis is transformed into a desire to procreate a child.

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