What occurs in the anal psychosexual stage of development?

The anal psychosexual stage, occurring roughly between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, is characterized by the child's focus on the pleasure derived from controlling bowel movements. During this stage, the anus becomes the primary erogenous zone, and the child experiences conflicts related to toilet training. These conflicts arise because parents often exert control over this aspect of the child's behavior, leading to feelings around retention (holding in) or expulsion (letting go).

Successfully navigating this stage typically involves balancing the child’s instinctual urges with external demands, which can result in either a sense of accomplishment or frustration. Outcomes of this stage are thought to contribute to personality traits in adulthood, such as the propensity for orderliness or messiness, often referred to as the anal-retentive or anal-expulsive personality types.

The focus of this stage is fundamentally about the relationship between the child and their control over bodily functions, which is why option B is the correct representation of this developmental phase.