Oedipus complex in adults: symptoms, solution and consequences

The concept of Oedipus complex It is used to refer to a normal and fundamental stage in the psychological development of the child based on strong attachment towards their maternal figure, however if the Oedipus complex is maintained until they become adults, a trouble.

In this Psychology-Online article we will talk about the Oedipus complex in adults: symptoms, solution and consequences, we are going to analyze in more detail what this disorder consists of, what are the symptoms in adults who suffer from it, the consequences of suffering it and how it can be overcome.

Index

1. What is the Oedipus complex: Freud's theory
2. The oedipus and electra complex
3. Symptoms of the Oedipus complex in adults
4. Consequences of not having overcome the Oedipus complex
5. Oedipus complex in adults: solution and treatment

Before talking about the Oedipus complex in adults and what its symptoms are, it is important to define exactly this concept. The Oedipus complex was created by the father of psychoanalysis

The Oedipus complex: the Greek myth and psychological disorder

According to Greek mythology, King Laius was warned by an oracle that his son would kill him when he was older, so when he was born he tied him by his feet and left him on a mountain to die, however for some reason this did not occurred. Some time later Epido, the King's son, returned to Thebes and fulfilled his profession, he killed his father, occupying his position and having his mother as his wife without knowing it.

According to this stage of the child's personality development, the child begins to develop a particular love and tenderness for the mother and feel the father as his rival because he is occupying the place he desires. This occurs between 3 and 7 years, causing the child to feel rejection by the father of the same sex (which is perfectly normal at this stage) and is overcome when the child identifies with the father disappearing that desire by the mother.

The negative Oedipus complex

However, there are people who they do not manage to overcome this stage development and reach 30 years or more and are stuck at that stage of their life. At this time, the Oedipus complex or syndrome becomes pathological and must be treated.

It is interesting to note that there is a variant of the Oedipus complex in women: the Electra complex. This was put together by Carl Gustav Jung and it is also based on classical mythology and defined as follows:

Adult women with an electra complex are characterized by developing a strong bond with their father, similar to romantic attraction. These women have strong conflicts with their mothers, who are perceived as rivals.

If you want to know more about this phenomenon, we recommend you read the following article: What is the Electra complex?.

When the adult man fails to overcome this normal stage of development and becomes stuck in her, a series of characteristic behavioral and psychological symptoms appear that identify.

Some of the symptoms of the Oedipus complex in adults most common are the following:

• Exaggerated closeness to mother (they see each other or talk on the phone on a daily basis, they admire her in an exaggerated way, put her first and foremost, even before the wife or girlfriend)
• Frequently asks for the mother's advice and consent to make her own decisions
• Sometimes they may experience sexual impotence because the unconscious sexual desires for the mother are repressed by her every time she experiences sexual arousal.
• They are more likely to have relationships destined for failure.
• They often fall in love with the impossible.
• They may still be financially dependent on the mother
• They usually change partners constantly since they cannot feel full. This occurs because it is very difficult for them to mix tenderness and love with sexual desire. That is, they cannot see the wife as a partner and lover at the same time.
• They show a great inability to form stable relationships
• They tend to be romantically involved with old people to them
• They may be afraid to be intimate with another person

The fact that an adult has not managed to overcome this stage in childhood or adolescence can bring with it a series of psychic repercussions that will be preventing a normal life and satisfactory. These repercussions affect you in one or more areas of your life and some of them can be described in this way:

• You will have serious difficulties mature psychologically and develop his own character because he depends almost entirely on the mother's opinion.
• It will be more difficult be self-sufficient by not becoming financially independent.
• You will experience constant feelings of frustration due to the inability to maintain a stable relationship.
• You are more likely to have couple conflicts
• Difficulty reaching your own life goals and objectives

All these situations are linked to suffering from great emotional instability and lack of emotional maturity, psychological and sexual.

The Oedipus complex can be solved regardless of the age of the person. However, we must be aware that if it is deeply rooted it is not always so easy, but with enough motivation and willpower it can be achieved. Some useful tips to cope with it are those that we detail below:

Acknowledge the problem

The most important step to overcome it is for the adult who suffers from it to recognize that they have this problem. Why is it the most important? Because you cannot wish to overcome something that you do not recognize in yourself. You must recognize and become aware of what is happening and how it is affecting your daily life as this is essential to find the motivation and willpower to eliminate it.

Let go of the "privileges" of being a child

Surely there is a resistance to "grow up" out of fear of taking charge of his own life and taking responsibility for himself, which in this case the mother has never encouraged. However, now that you are an adult you are beginning to do something to detach yourself from that role as a child and start making your own decisions. How to do it?

You can start by identifying what you really want no matter what your mother thinks or says and carry it out, another very important issue is to stop giving it priority over all things, especially when romantic relationships are established where the couple becomes a priority, to moderate in terms of visits and phone calls, to seek to be financially independent and above all not to be afraid of not always obtaining your approval.

Remember that it is necessary to cut the cord emotional dependence and / or economic and accept the departure to become a mature and independent adult.

Go to a professional

If you notice that the problem is persistent, it is affecting you in one or more areas of your life, you feel that you cannot fight it alone and / or you would simply like to receive external help To overcome it, you need to see a psychologist to provide you with the tools you need to cope with it as well as to support you in this process.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Oedipus complex in adults: symptoms, solution and consequences, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.