In Freud's theory, what is the focus of the anal stage during toddler years?

• A. Toilet training readiness
• B. Achieving anal sphincter control
• C. Independence from caregivers
• D. Exploring objects and mastery

Answer: (B)

The focus of this stage in Freud’s theory is on gaining control over bodily functions, specifically the anal sphincter. During the toddler years, the child learns to withhold or release stool and urine, which ties into a sense of autonomy and self-control. This process is shaped by the conflict between the child’s natural impulses and parental expectations, and it’s through successful toilet control that the child feels pride and mastery—or, if frustrated, may develop shame. Toilet training embodies this stage’s theme because it centers on mastering elimination and the associated sense of control.

Other options miss the core dynamic: toilet training readiness is a practical prerequisite rather than the psychoanalytic focus; independence from caregivers describes a broader autonomy development rather than the specific anal-control conflict; exploring objects and mastery aligns more with later exploration and mastery of the environment, not the fixation on bowel and bladder control characteristic of this stage.