Psychology Roots
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Electra Complex
The Electra Complex, named by Carl Jung for the Greek myth of Electra, is an extension of Sigmund Freudʼs Oedipus Theory and attempts to explain female psychosexual development. In the Greek Myth, Electra wanted her brother to kill their mother. In the Jung’s theory (based on Freud’s work), a girl learns that her father has a penis and she does not, develops “penis envy,” a sexual attachment to her father, and a sense of romantic love for him. She also begins to see her mother as an obstacle or rival for the father, and may even blame her mother for her lack of penis. Over time, the girl starts to internalize these feelings toward her mother and they start to form a healthier relationship.
