ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam 2025 - Free Clinical Practice Questions and Study Guide

The latent stage, occurring approximately between ages 6 to puberty, is characterized by a focus on social relationships, skills development, and intellectual pursuits rather than sexual interests. This stage is significant because it is a time when psychosexual energy is channeled into other areas of life, such as school, friendships, and hobbies.

In contrast to the earlier stages—oral, anal, and phallic—where fixations can occur if conflicts are not adequately resolved, the latent stage is largely free from such issues. As a result, individuals typically do not experience the same level of fixation during this period. This absence of focus on sexual development enables children to concentrate on building social skills and forming peer relationships, laying a foundation for later stages of development.

The other stages, including oral, anal, and phallic, all involve specific challenges and conflicts related to psychosexual development. Failing to navigate these conflicts can lead to fixations that may influence behavior and personality in adulthood. Thus, the distinctive characteristic of the latent stage sets it apart from the other stages in Freud's theory of psychosexual development.