Freud's theory of fixation posits that fixation results in adult personality characteristics related to the stage at which the fixation occurred. Which statement best reflects this idea?

• A. Childhood behavior patterns that disappear in adulthood.
• B. Adult personality characteristics related to the stage at which the fixation occurred.
• C. Unconscious wishes that remain unresolved.
• D. General anxiety levels in adulthood.

Answer: (B)

In Freud’s view, fixation means the psychic energy gets stuck at a particular psychosexual stage, so the adult personality carries traits that echo the conflicts and experiences of that stage. The statement that best reflects this idea is that adult personality characteristics are related to the stage at which the fixation occurred, because the unresolved stage-specific dynamics shape behavior and personality later on. This explains why, for instance, lingering traits in adulthood align with the particular stage where the fixation happened, rather than disappearing patterns, vague unresolved wishes, or generic anxiety levels that aren’t tied to a specific developmental stage.