From Cradle to Cupid: Freud’s take on Romantic Partners as Parental Proxies

Description

Page: 279-284

Deshna Chatterjee (Department of Psychology, Asutosh College, University of Calcutta, West Bengal)

This review explores the psychoanalytic perspective that argues our romantic choices are significantly influenced by our early parental relationships, by delving into Sigmund Freud’s theory on the selection of romantic partners. This paper, titled, “From Cradle to Cupid: Freud’s Take on Romantic Partners as Parental Proxies,” addresses key Freudian concepts, notably the repetition of compulsion, transference, and the Oedipus complex, to elucidate why individuals unconsciously seek romantic partners who resemble their parents. This review traces the evolution of these concepts and their implications for understanding romantic attachment by discussing key Freudian texts alongside subsequent psychoanalytic literature. Additionally, it assesses contemporary empirical research that either confirms or refutes Freud’s assertions, providing a critical evaluation of the relevance of these theories to modern psychoanalytic practices. The study aims to provide an exhaustive review of the interplay between early childhood experiences and romantic relationships in adulthood, emphasizing the lasting influence and constraints of Freud’s theories on psychological research today.