What is the Oedipus Complex?

10. Criticism

Freud's Oedipus theory was often rejected during his lifetime, and it is considered completely illegitimate in modern psychology. Freud was accused of twisting "Oedipus Rex" to match his own ideas. Oedipus' story started with parental neglect and abuse. He did not in fact see his mother as an object of desire, and he tried to avoid killing his father. He even tore his own eyes out after realizing what he had done. Misinterpreting a fictional play is minor, but it fits with other accusations of manipulating research. Freud selectively chose human behaviors that supported the Oedipus complex, and he omitted behaviors that contradicted it.