Freudian concepts on the irruption of puberty and the etiology of neuroses

Abstract

This work aims to outline the nuance of the concept of puberty throughout Sigmund Freud's studies. We intend to understand how Freud, based on the interface between 'determinism of childhood period' and 'teenagers contingency', articulates puberty in relation to the irruption of neurosis. We deal with the relevance of the 'latency period' and also with the assumption of sexuality 'in two stages', according to the understanding about puberty and its possibilities for the constitution of the subject. We use as a methodological resource some of the main clinical cases analyzed by Freud such as Dora, The Wolf Man and The Young Homosexual Woman. In this way, our purpose is to stablish the discussion on the relevance of the irruption of puberty, its possibilities and obstacles in the causation/manifestation of any neurosis. We realized that Freud, while not taking this issue as the focus of his research, explores it throughout his studies, allowing us to infer and discuss his point of views about this theme.