Helwig NCE & CPCE – Human Growth And Development (HGrD) Practice Test

In Freud’s theory, the anal stage is the second stage of psychosexual development and centers on toilet training and a child’s growing sense of control over bodily functions. This period typically occurs around ages 2 to 3 years (roughly 18–36 months). The key dynamic is the child’s experience with demands for control and the pleasure or frustration that comes from withholding or releasing feces, which can shape later feelings about control and order. So the 2–3 year range best fits this stage because it aligns with the time when toilet training is most salient and the primary conflicts “control vs. compliance” are central. The other options don’t fit as well: 6–12 years aligns with the latency period, not the anal stage; 12–19 years corresponds to the genital stage; 3–5 years extends beyond the typical window where toilet training is the main focus and overlaps with later stages.