ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam

What outcome can result from not being satisfied during the oral stage?

1. Overeating

2. Guilt and anxiety

3. Controlling behavior

4. Lack of trust in others

The correct answer is: Overeating

In psychosexual development, the oral stage generally occurs from birth to about 18 months and is primarily associated with oral activities such as sucking and biting. If an individual experiences unmet needs or frustration during this stage, it can lead to oral fixation later in life. This fixation often manifests through behaviors such as overeating, smoking, or excessive talking as a means to seek gratification that was not adequately fulfilled during the oral stage. When needs during this stage are not met, individuals may resort to these behaviors to cope with feelings of deprivation or to find comfort. Thus, doing something like overeating becomes a way to regain a sense of oral satisfaction that was lacking in early development. The other options represent different psychological outcomes related to other stages of development or different aspects of personality. Guilt and anxiety might stem from conflicts in the phallic stage, controlling behavior could be linked to the anal stage, and a lack of trust in others typically arises from insecure attachment patterns which could emerge later in childhood, rather than being specifically attributed to oral stage frustrations.