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The '''[[oral ]] [[stage]]''' in [[psychology]] is the term used by [[Sigmund Freud]] to describe the [[development ]] during the first eighteen months of [[life]], in which an [[infant]]'s [[pleasure ]] centers are in the mouth. This is the first of [[Freud]]'s [[psychosexual stages]].

If a [[child ]] was not fed enough or was fed too much (over-protected), this may later create an [[oral fixation]] in that [[adult]]. It is believed that [[fixation]] in the oral stage can [[cause ]] one of two things. If the child was treated well, fed lots, he will be orally dependent, and therefore selfish and wanton because he is used to getting what he wants. He might learn to manipulate [[others ]] to fulfill his [[needs ]] rather than maturing to independence. The overly indulged child may resist growing up and try to [[return ]] to that [[state ]] of dependency through crying, acting [[helpless]], demanding [[satisfaction]], and [[being ]] "needy."

This is the infant's first [[relationship ]] with its [[mother]]; it is a nutritive one. The length of this stage depends on the [[society]]. In some societies it is common for a child to be nursed by its mother for several years, whereas this stage is much shorter in [[other ]] societies. Suckling and eating, however, compose the earliest [[memories ]] for infants in every society. This stage, especially in some tribal societies, holds special importance because they consider the stomach to be the seat of emotions. These societies are commonly found in the Southwest Pacific and Africa.