MURRAY - DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES AND ASSOCIATED COMPLEXES

• DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES AND ASSOCIATED COMPLEXES

  1. Claustral Stage (Claustral Complexes)
  2. Oral Stage (Oral Complexes)
  3. Anal Stage (Anal Complexes)
  4. Urethral Stage (Urethral Complex)
  5. Genital Stage (Genital or Castration Complex)
• Claustral Stage


  comprises of the secure, serene, and dependent existence of fetus within the womb
• Claustral Stage


  Basically, these are the conditions we may all occasionally wish to reinstate
• 3 Types of Claustral Complexes

  1. Simple Claustral Complex
  2. Insupport Form of Claustral Complex
  3. Anti-Claustral Complex (Egression Form)
• Simple Claustral Complex


  In this complex, the person has a desire to be in small, warm, dark places that are safe and secluded
• Simple Claustral Complex


  Example: one might long to remain under the blankets instead of getting out of bed in the morning
• Simple Claustral Complex


  People with this complex show: need to reinstate womb-like conditions, dependency on others, passive tendencies and are oriented to past and also they don’t like to change
• Insupport Form of Claustral Complex


  This complex is related to feelings of insecurity, lack of trust and helplessness, fear of open places, falling, drowning, fires, earthquakes, or any situation of novelty and change
• Anti-Claustral Complex (Egression Form)


  People with this complex show: a need to escape from restraining womb-like conditions; fear of suffocation; preference for open spaces, fresh air, travel, movement, change, and novelty
• Oral Stage


  This stage comprises of sensuous enjoyment of sucking nourishment through mother’s breasts
• 3 Types of Oral Complexes

  1. Oral Succorance Complex
  2. Oral Aggression Complex
  3. Oral Rejection Complex
• Oral Succorance Complex


  This complex is related to a combination of mouth activities (sucking, kissing, eating, drinking), passive tendencies, need to be protected and supported
• Oral Succorance Complex


  People with this complex also show hunger for affection and love
• Oral Aggression Complex


  This complex is a combination of oral and aggressive behaviors such as biting, spitting, shouting, and verbal aggression

  Example: sarcasm
• Oral Rejection Complex


  This complex includes vomiting, being picky about food, eating less, fearing oral contamination (such as from kissing), desiring seclusion and avoiding dependence on others
• Anal Stage


  This stage consists of pleasures resulting from defecation as children become aware of toilet related activities
• 2 Types of Anal Complexes

  1. Anal Rejection Complex
  2. Anal Retention Complex
• Anal Retention Complex


  This complex is characterized by accumulating, saving and collecting things, neatness, cleanliness, and orderliness
• Anal Rejection Complex


  People with this complex are disorganized, dirty, preoccupied with defecation, anal humor, feces-like material (e.g. mud, plaster, etc.) and are fond of activities involving aggression such as dropping and throwing things, firing guns
• Urethral Stage


  This stage is associated with the pleasure accompanying urination
• Urethral Complex


  This complex is associated with excessive ambition, exhibitionism, distorted sense of self-esteem, bed-wetting, sexual cravings, self-love (narcissism)
• Urethral Complex


  This complex is sometimes referred to as “Icarus Complex”, named after the mythical Greek figure who flew so close to the sun that the wax holding his wings melted
• Urethral Complex


  Like Icarus, people show high ambitions and their dreams are shattered by failure
• Genital/Castration Stage


  This stage is accompanied by genital pleasures
• Genital/Castration Complex


  This complex is related to the anxiety evoked by the fantasy that the penis might be cut off
• Genital/Castration Complex


  Such a fear grows out of childhood masturbation and parental punishment that may have accompanied it