Is it true that the Oedipus complex serves as a way to ensure that no
one individual specimen mates aoutside its species, by being most
attarcted to other specimens whose chemical scent is similar (or
identical, if that's possible) to that of its parent of the opposite
sex? If not, tell me what most scientists/psychologists theorize the
purpose of the Oedipus complex is.

Hello sonicltmrc~

According to Encyclopedia.com, the Oedipus complex is a "Freudian
term, drawn from the myth of Oedipus." (Oedipus is from Greek
mythology; his story can be found here:
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/O/Oedipus.asp ) The term "Oedipus
complex" designates "attraction on the part of the child toward the
parent of the opposite sex and rivalry and hostility toward the parent
of its own. It occurs during the phallic stage of the psycho-sexual
development of the personality, approximately years three to five.
Resolution of the Oedipus complex is believed to occur by
identification with the parent of the same sex and by the renunciation
of sexual interest in the parent of the opposite sex. Freud considered
this complex the cornerstone of the superego and the nucleus of all
human relationships. Many psychiatrists, while acknowledging the
significance of the Oedipal relationships to personality development
in our culture, ascribe love and attraction toward one parent and
hatred and antagonism toward the other not necessarily to sexual
rivalry but to resentment of parental authoritarian power." ("Oedipus
complex," encyclopedia.com,
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/o/oedipusc.asp )

Although the theory has been called one of the cornerstones of
psychoanalysis, it has come under serious question in recent years.
Tradition has it that during some self-analysis Freud unearthed a
childhood memory of being sexually aroused when he saw his mother
naked. But there's no evidence that this episode ever occurred, and in
fact what Freud actually wrote about this discovery was that he
remembered a long train journey, and assumed that he might have had
the opportunity to see his mother naked. He then assumed that he might
have been aroused by the scene. For further information about these
assumptions, visit:
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/psyc/vornikFreud/oedip.htm

Unfortunately, the Oedipus complex was generally used to make the
child victim of sexual abuse feel as though they somehow desired their
abusive parent's sexual attention. For an article covering this topic,
visit:
http://www.secasa.com.au/survivors/the_psychoanalytic_approach_2.html

For an article that does some questioning of the Oedipus complex in
general, visit:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~psysc/human/chap5.html

Here is another article that questions the theory:
http://www.ottorank.com/oed.htm

And another interesting article questioning Freud:
http://www.psychoanalysis.org.uk/media.htm

Here is a scholarly article about Freud and how his theory was
influenced by a play:
http://www.ucd.ie/~classics/99/cairns_rev.html


Natural scientists also tell us there's limited evidence to back up
Freud's theory. Here's an article covering one study that seems to
show women prefer men who smell like their fathers:
http://www.nature.com/nsu/020114/020114-13.html

But the vast majority of other studies have apparently shown fault in
Freud's theory. For example, while Freud wrote that the Oedipus
complex occurred around age four, modern studies suggest that infants
are able to discriminate perceptually between the sexes before the age
of one year. It is also now thought that by year two, children can
label themselves as male or female. (This information is pointed out
in this article: http://www.gender.org.uk/about/01psanal/11_oedip.htm
)

Indeed, pheromones seem to be what attract human males to human
females, and vice versa. Here is one article that covers this topic:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/pheromones_attraction020321.html

Here's another article on that topic:
http://www.sirc.org/publik/smell_attract.html

So, currently Freud's theory is under heavy questioning, with science
finding it difficult to back up.


Keywords Used:
"Oedipus complex"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Oedipus+complex%22

"Oedipus complex" scent
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Oedipus+complex%22+scent

"Oedipus complex" evidence
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Oedipus+complex%22+evidence

Hope this helps!
kriswrite

Very extensive, a whole lot more than what I had expected for $10! And
of course very helpful.
Everyhting I ever wanted to know on the subject (and more) contained
within the answer itself and/or the articles and links provided. I
most likely would have never found out all this info on my own.

Thanx a bundle! GOOGLE ROX!!!