Objectivity and the scientific method are both part of a psychologist's mode of operation. However, even the greatest of psychologists can only theorize about what makes human beings act the way they do. Absolutes are not part of psychology and everything is relative and open to speculation. Theorists can only give us their views or ideas about life. In the field of psychology, there have been many different areas of interest, human development being one of the most popular. Freud and Erikson were both great theorists with different ideas concerning human development. Each theorist developed ideas and stages for human development. Their theories on human development had human beings passing through different stages. .
Sigmund Freud is known as the father of psychology. He had many theories on how people develop. His most influential theory to the development of the human mind was his five psychosexual stages. .
The first of the five psychosexual stages is the oral stage, this stage occurs from birth to one year of age. During the oral stage, the Id develops and desires instant gratification. In the oral stage the erogenous zone is considered to be that of the mouth. The second psychosexual stage is the anal stage, which occurs from one to two years of age. During this stage both the Id and the Ego are developed and the erogenous zone is the anus. In this stage children experience gratification during bowel movements and when they withhold them. The third psychosexual stage is the phallic stage. The phallic stage begins at age three and continues through age five. The erogenous zone in this stage is considered to be the phallus or the genitals. At this point all three components of the mind, the Id, Ego, and Superego are developed. During the phallic stage, one might go through the oedipal conflict, as a boy or the Electra conflict, as a girl meaning that they desire that parent of the opposite sex.