In girls, the Oedipus complex is referred to as which complex?

• A. Castration complex
• B. Oedipus complex
• C. Electra complex
• D. Electromagnetic complex

Answer: (C)

In Freudian theory, the female counterpart to the Oedipus complex is called the Electra complex. This idea describes a girl’s psychosexual development in which she experiences affection toward her father and rivalry with her mother, with the conflict generally resolving as the girl identifies with the mother and internalizes feminine gender roles. This term specifically designates the girl’s version of the same dynamic that the Oedipus complex captures in boys, making Electra the correct label for girls. The castration complex is associated with the male Oedipus dynamics, the Oedipus complex itself refers to the male version, and “Electromagnetic complex” isn’t a recognized psychoanalytic term.