What is the primary focus of the instinctual drives during the oral stage?

The oral stage, a concept introduced by Sigmund Freud in his psychosexual theory of development, centers around the mouth as the primary pleasure center. During this stage, which typically occurs from birth to about 18 months, infants derive pleasure and comfort from activities such as sucking, biting, and eating. The mouth is a crucial part of their interaction with the world, serving not only to fulfill basic nutritional needs but also to provide security and satisfaction.

Freud suggested that the experiences during the oral stage can significantly influence personality development. For instance, overly indulgent or overly frustrated experiences could lead to traits associated with fixation in adulthood, such as dependency or aggression.

Understanding this focus on the mouth clarifies why this option is the most accurate representation of the instinctual drives during the oral stage. In contrast, other options, while relevant to different aspects of human development, do not capture the essence of this specific psychosexual phase. For instance, the need for independence and establishment of boundaries are more pertinent to later stages in development, such as the anal stage or the phallic stage, where autonomy and social norms become significant. The need for social interaction, while important throughout development, is not the primary focus during the oral stage, which is more centered on