Oedipus Complex

"Oedipus complex - a complex of males; desire to possess the mother sexually and to exclude the father; said to be a source of personality disorders if unresolved ."

As per Greek mythology Oedipus became the king of Thebes after he killed his father King Laius. Oedipus was so sexually obsessed and possessive about his mother Queen Jacosta, that he murders his own father in order to eliminate any male competition. His mother has been represented in history as, 'The Sphinx' a feline creature with a human head and breasts. Though, the mythology termed Oedipus's lust, the consequences of a prophecy which required that he kill his father, so that he could marry his mother, and thus gain control over the throne. The basis of this ancient mythology was later used by the famous psychiatrist, Sigmund Freud while conducting psychoanalysis of male and female patients who were sexually attracted to their parents of the opposite sex. He called this behavior the Oedipus Complex for the males who were too attached and lusted for their mothers.

What is the Oedipus Complex
The Oedipus Complex is a part of psychology and the study of sexual tendencies portrayed by humans with their own parents. It is one of the theories of psychoanalysis, by which it is believed that these sexually deviant feelings are mostly subconscious and are usually not displayed actively by the son. These symptoms begin during the boy's libidinal period and his ego development phase, which is said to be between 3 - 6 years of age. They show signs of lack of confidence when in-between strangers, especially among other males. These 'mother-fixated' symptoms are said to stem from the basic carnal fear of males, which is 'Castration Anxiety'- the fear of losing one's sexual organ or manhood. Here, it means that the boy feels threatened by his father's sexual authority over his mother. His mother being the object of desire for both the father and the son, the son feels the need to remove or physically harm the father. The father loses his parental status and becomes an enemy, and a male competitor.

Need for Immediate Treatment
Oedipus complex like behavior, if nor resolved or treated on time, can turn into an incurable mental condition. This condition if left untreated can emerge as repressed tendencies, which can lead to sexual deviance, and criminal acts. The tendency to rape, molest, or sexually harm adults as well as minors (Pedophilia), has been attributed to have its connections with the Oedipus Complex, in some cases. However, this is not always the only reason, because some sexually violent individuals have been found to have experienced painful sexual encounters as kids and that is the reason why they inflict similar violence upon others. The psychoanalysis of the Oedipus complex would portray high levels of jealousy towards the father, wherein the child may try to create misunderstandings between the parents, by lying to them and creating distrustful situations. All of which will be done, so as to make the mother distrust her spouse. The child will behave rudely and ill treat his father, while showing affection and care towards his mother. Sometimes the child may even try to physically harm and hurt the father.

Electra Complex
The Electra complex definition says "Electra complex - a complex of females; sexual attraction to the father."
The Electra Complex is the Oedipus complex for girls. This complex makes the daughter portray tendencies of 'Penis Envy'- whereby she is sexually attracted to her father and wishes to have his affection. These girls show signs of low self-control when they feel rejected, and thus initiate sexual interaction and activity with other males, at a very early age which is both unhealthy and dangerous for these girls. They may also turn violent sometimes and endanger other people's lives, this is the stage which needs to be guarded against. Immediate restriction in a mental illness center is often imperative, after such bouts of violence. This phenomenon of the Electra complex often applies to the males who suffer from the Oedipus Complex as well. While she hates her mother and is extremely jealous of her presence in their lives, the daughter sees her own mother as a competitor and wishes to eliminate or psychically harm her in any way possible. These females grow up to be sexually violent to others as well as themselves, by entertaining multiple sexual partners, by indulging in masochism and sadism, through unsafe and violent intercourse, and by harming their own children.

Individuals suffering with this complex, often go through depression, because they tend to suppress their feeling for many years, which causes them to shun and hide away from society. Sometimes, these symptoms deduce or diminish on their own when these individuals grow up and have healthier interactions with other males and females. They let go of the constant urge to possess their parents in an unhealthy manner. Often they tend to be attracted to women or men who relate or sexually remind them of their parents, thus many end up getting into relationships with people with similar features, facial structures, or behavior patterns, as those of their previous object of desire. In some adverse cases, the object of desire for a parent could transcend to other people, or even inanimate objects, which once belonged to the parent.

How to Deal with Oedipus Complex Patients
The only healthy way to treat the Oedipus complex is to give these children access to psychotherapy and independence away from their respective object of desire. This must be done in such a way that the child does not feel like he or she is being abandoned for being evil or diseased. The bond of care and love must be maintained and both the parents must express their care equally and in a controlled manner. This helps diminish their obsessive compulsion to sexually possess the parent, it also helps in the development of mutual respect and understanding between the parents and the child. Seeking therapy with a combination of medications helps control these tendencies. Discussing the issue openly with the therapist, would allow the parents and the child to obtain closure and positive results.

The Oedipus and the Electra complex are mental disorders that often fade with age, when the individual realizes that his or her behavior and feelings are against social morality and conduct. They themselves refrain and resist from letting their actions go out of control. So if these individuals show signs of resistance and wish to stay away, the parents must allow them to do so.