According to Freud's theory, what determines future development?

• A. The outcome of the conflicts at each stage
• B. The amount of parental attention
• C. The child’s intelligence
• D. The social environment

Answer: (A)

In Freud’s theory, future development is shaped by how the child resolves conflicts that arise at each psychosexual stage. Each stage focuses on a different source of pleasure, and successful resolution of the conflicts at every stage allows energy to move forward smoothly, leading to healthier adult personality. If conflicts are not resolved well, a fixation can occur, influencing behavior and traits later on. So the key idea is that the outcome of these stage-specific conflicts determines how development unfolds.

Parental attention, while part of a child’s environment, isn’t the main mechanism Freud proposed. The theory centers on internal conflicts and their resolution, not simply on external factors like intelligence or social surroundings.