What is medusa complex?

The Medusa complex is a psychological term coined by Sigmund Freud. It refers to the fear of castration (physical or symbolic) in boys and the desire for revenge against the mother for not providing a penis. The complex is named after Medusa, a monster from Greek mythology whose hair was made of snakes and could turn men to stone with her gaze.

According to Freud, the Medusa complex leads to the development of castration anxiety in boys, who become fixated on the mother as the object of their desire and fear. Boys in this stage may become jealous of the mother’s relationship with the father, leading to feelings of anger and hostility.

While the Medusa complex is not widely recognized in contemporary psychoanalytic theory, it is still used as a framework for understanding the development of gender identity and the psychological impacts of gendered norms and expectations. It is also seen as a symbolic representation of the fear of female power and castration anxiety in men.