Child Life Certification Practice Test 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The theory that children's personality development is influenced by their parents' handling of sexual and aggressive desires is attributed to Sigmund Freud. Freud's psychoanalytic theory emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind and the importance of early childhood experiences in shaping personality. He suggested that children go through various psychosexual stages of development, in which the way parents address their children's impulses—specifically those related to sexuality and aggression—can have a profound impact on their overall personality and behavior in adulthood.

In Freud’s framework, if parents employ overly strict or inconsistent methods in dealing with these natural urges, it may lead to fixation at certain stages, potentially resulting in specific personality traits. For instance, conflict during the latency stage could lead to issues in relationships later in life. This focus on the parent's role in mediating these developmental challenges distinguishes Freud's approach from those of other theorists, who may emphasize cognitive development or psychosocial factors instead.