Mother's boy

In classical Freudian psychoanalytic theory, the term Oedipus complex denotes a child's desire to have sexual relations with the parent of the opposite sex.

This Freudian perspective emerged in the early 1900's, in which he addressed physical traits such as being a "mother's boy" by exploring and resolving conflicts within the internal mind.

[5] Freud proposed that child development occurs in five psychosexual stages, each marked by various conflicts that children must "overcome" in order to successfully progress onto the next.

[8] However, if the psychosexual Oedipus conflict remains unresolved, fixation can occur, resulting in the child becoming "stuck" with phallic personality traits into adulthood.

[9] Psychologists John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth investigated the emotional bond (reciprocity) formed between infants and their mothers.

[10] In Ainsworth's "strange situation" experiment in 1970, she explored the long term implications of various attachment styles for adult functioning.

Critics argue the theory's speculative nature and reliance on clinical observations lack empirical evidence and scientific rigour.

By contrast, Asian cultures, including those in countries like India, Pakistan, and China, often place a strong emphasis on family values and filial piety (the virtue of showing respect for one's parents and elders).

There is also a portrayal as a running joke in the comedy series Arrested Development, where one child-like character, Buster Bluth, is attached to his mother, Lucille, and participated in an annual mother-son dinner dance called "Motherboy" for around 30 years, well into his adulthood.

Norman's deep emotional attachment to his mother, coupled with her extreme influence, contributes to his descent into madness and eventual transformation into an infamous killer in the film.