In Freud's psychosexual development theory, which stage comes after the anal stage?

In Freud's theory of psychosexual development, the stage that follows the anal stage is the phallic stage. This stage typically occurs from ages three to six and is characterized by children becoming more aware of their bodies and the differences between genders, which influences their sexual identity. During this time, children may develop a fascination with their own genitals and those of others, leading to feelings that Freud described as part of the Oedipus complex, where boys feel rivalry with their fathers and a desire for their mothers, while girls experience analogous feelings towards their fathers.

Understanding this progression is important in psychoanalytic theory, as Freud believed that experiences in each stage could significantly impact an individual's adult personality and behavior. Each stage builds upon the experiences and conflicts experienced in the previous stage, and resolution or fixation at any stage could lead to various personality traits or issues later in life.

The other stages, such as the oral, latency, and genital stages, are significant in their own right but do not immediately follow the anal stage in the sequence established by Freud. The oral stage occurs first, the latency stage follows the phallic stage, and the genital stage comes last, signifying a maturation of sexual feelings and relationships in adolescence and adulthood.