Child Life Certification Practice Test 2026 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

In Freud's theory, the phase that focuses on the satisfaction derived from sucking and biting is the oral phase. This phase occurs during the first year of life, when an infant's primary interaction with the world is through the mouth. Activities such as sucking on a pacifier, nursing, or biting objects help fulfill the infant's needs for nutrition and comfort. During this stage, the mouth is central to the infant's experience, and gratification comes from oral stimulation.

The oral phase is crucial because it establishes the foundation for developing trust and comfort. Freud believed that issues stemming from this stage could manifest later in life, influencing behaviors linked to dependency, aggression, or vulnerability if these needs were not adequately met.

In contrast, other stages such as the anal phase focus on toilet training and control, the phallic stage involves identification with the same-sex parent and the development of sexual identity, and the genital stage is associated with mature sexual relationships and reproduction. Each of these stages has its own distinct focus and significance in psychosexual development, but the oral phase uniquely centers around the mouth and its functions, which explains its association with sucking and biting.