Oedipal: meaning, definitions and examples
👶
oedipal
[ ˈɛdɪpəl ]
psychology context
The term 'Oedipal' relates to the Oedipus complex, a psychoanalytic theory proposed by Sigmund Freud. This complex describes a child's feelings of desire for the opposite-sex parent and jealousy toward the same-sex parent. Often used to explore themes of familial relationships and subconscious emotions, Oedipal dynamics can emerge in both literature and psychotherapy. It symbolizes the conflict that arises during the phallic stage of psychosexual development.
Synonyms
Freudian, complex, psychological
Examples of usage
- He exhibited Oedipal tendencies in therapy.
- The novel contained clear Oedipal themes.
- Her Oedipal feelings were a source of conflict.
- They discussed Oedipal dynamics in class.
Translations
Translations of the word "oedipal" in other languages:
🇵🇹 edípico
🇮🇳 ओडिपल
🇩🇪 ödipal
🇮🇩 oedipal
🇺🇦 едіпальний
🇵🇱 edypalny
🇯🇵 エディプス的
🇫🇷 Œdipien
🇪🇸 edípico
🇹🇷 edip
🇰🇷 오이디푸스적
🇸🇦 أوديبية
🇨🇿 Oidipovský
🇸🇰 Oidipovský
🇨🇳 俄狄浦斯的
🇸🇮 edipov
🇮🇸 Ödipus
🇰🇿 Эдиптік
🇬🇪 ედიპური
🇦🇿 edip
🇲🇽 edípico
Etymology
The term 'Oedipal' originates from the Greek tragedy 'Oedipus Rex' by Sophocles, where Oedipus, the protagonist, unwittingly kills his father and marries his mother. This tragic narrative laid the foundation for Freud's theory, highlighting the deep psychological connections between parent and child. Freud introduced the Oedipus complex in his work 'The Interpretation of Dreams' published in 1899, suggesting that such feelings were part of normal childhood development. Since then, the term has been widely adopted in psychological discussions and literary analyses to describe complex familial relationships and conflicts arising from them.
Word Frequency Rank
At rank #28,562, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.
- ...
- 28559 carousel
- 28560 drooling
- 28561 deadliest
- 28562 oedipal
- 28563 maladministration
- 28564 genocidal
- 28565 pandemonium
- ...