Penis envy in Freudian theory refers to which idea?

• A. Anxiety in girls upon realizing they do not have a penis.
• B. A boy's envy of girls' social power.
• C. A fear of intimacy in adulthood.
• D. A desire to perform in public.

Answer: (A)

Penis envy is the Freudian idea that during early development girls become aware of their anatomical difference and feel envy toward the male organ and what it represents in terms of power and social status. This occurs in the phallic stage and is tied to how a girl forms her gender identity and superego. The description that says girls experience anxiety upon realizing they do not have a penis captures this sense of lack and longing Freud described. The other options miss the point: they refer to envy of social power by boys, fear of intimacy, or a desire to perform in public, none of which align with the concept.