Which psychosexual stage focuses on a child's ability to control their elimination of feces?

The correct answer is the Anal Stage, which is the second of Sigmund Freud's psychosexual stages of development. This stage occurs roughly between the ages of 1 and 3 years. During this period, a child's primary focus is on controlling bowel and bladder movements. Freud believed that the child's experience with toilet training is crucial for developing a sense of control and independence.

Successful navigation through the Anal Stage leads to the development of a sense of competence and autonomy, while challenges or conflicts during this stage can contribute to personality traits associated with being overly orderly (anal-retentive) or disorganized (anal-expulsive). The emphasis on the child's ability to control elimination reflects the significance of this developmental stage in terms of personal authority and self-discipline, which influences later personality development.

The other stages mentioned do not focus on elimination. The Phallic Stage, which follows the Anal Stage, is centered around the child's discovery of their own genitalia and the development of gender identity. The Latency Stage occurs after the Phallic Stage and is characterized by a period of relative calm in psychosexual development, where children focus on social interactions and learning rather than sexual interests. The Genital Stage, which emerges in adolescence, involves the maturation of sexual interests and