What Causes an Oedipus Complex

In the young boy, the Oedipus complex or more correctly, conflict, arises because the boy develops unconscious sexual (pleasurable) desires for his mother. Envy and Jealous are aimed at the father, the object of the mother’s affection and attention.

What happens if the Oedipus complex is not resolved?

When the Oedipus complex is not successfully resolved during the phallic stage, an unhealthy fixation can develop and remain. This leads to boys becoming fixated on their mothers and girls becoming fixated on their fathers, causing them to choose romantic partners that resemble their opposite-sex parent as adults.

Is Oedipus complex a disorder?

It’s important to note that there’s very little evidence that the Oedipus (or Electra) complex is real. It is not listed as a psychological condition in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used by clinicians to diagnose psychological conditions and disorders.