According to Freud, what is fixation?

Fixation, according to Freud's theory of psychosexual development, refers to the phenomenon where an individual remains focused on the experiences and challenges of a particular psychosexual stage beyond the typical age range for that stage. This can occur due to either excessive gratification or frustration during that stage, leading to the persistence of certain behaviors and traits associated with that stage into adulthood.

Freud believed that if a person faced unresolved conflicts or challenges during a psychosexual stage, they might carry those issues forward, resulting in what is termed fixation. For example, someone who has not adequately resolved issues related to the oral stage might develop behaviors such as dependency or an overly strong focus on oral activities, such as eating or smoking, later in life.

The concept of fixation directly ties into the persistence of certain sexual traits and behaviors that were predominant during the unresolved psychosexual stage, making persistence of anachronistic sexual traits a fitting description of fixation. This highlights Freud's idea that early childhood experiences significantly shape adult personality and behavior.