Which statements describe behaviors that may indicate Oral stage frustration?

• A. Overeating and smoking
• B. Nail biting
• C. Overeating, smoking, nail biting, or talking too much
• D. Talking too much

Answer: (C)

In Freudian theory, the oral stage centers on gratification through the mouth. If needs for oral stimulation are frustrated or not fully satisfied during this period, a person may develop fixations that express themselves later as mouth-related behaviors. Overeating and smoking are classic examples of seeking oral gratification, while nail-biting and talking excessively are also common expressions of that oral fixation. Because a range of behaviors can indicate this frustration, the option that includes overeating, smoking, nail-biting, or talking too much best captures how oral-stage frustration may manifest.