Electra conflict

• JUNG introduced the term in 1931
• girls realise males have penises and feel cheated because they do not have one
• girls believe they have been castrated already and blame their mother for this
• they experience lust for their father transferring their love to the father as he has a penis - suffering penis envy
• what's penis envy?


  the desire for a penis
• the girl gradually accepts that they cannot have one and so they substitute their desire for a penis with a desire for a baby (male baby)
• the conflict is resolved by the girl identifying with the mother and internalising into her psyche, developing her super-ego and gender identity