What is meant by fixation in Freud's psychosexual theory?

• A. A form of dream content.
• B. A stage beyond psychosexual development.
• C. Unresolved conflicts at a stage leading to adult personality traits or behaviors.
• D. A coping mechanism in adulthood.

Answer: (C)

Fixation in Freud's theory means getting stuck at a psychosexual stage because the needs or conflicts of that stage weren’t properly resolved. The energy attached to that stage remains active, so the person continues to seek gratification in the same way in adulthood. That lingering focus shapes adult personality and behaviors, producing traits linked to the stage where the fixation occurred. For example, an unresolved early conflict can manifest as tendencies related to that stage later in life. This is why the description that mentions unresolved conflicts at a stage leading to adult personality traits or behaviors is the best fit. The other statements don’t capture the idea that fixation is about lingering, stage-specific conflicts shaping later behavior.