Freud used the term “Oedipus complex” to describe a child's desire for their opposite-sex parent and feelings of envy, jealousy, resentment, and competition with the same-sex parent. It's important to note that there's very little evidence that the Oedipus (or Electra) complex is real.

Are Oedipus and Electra complex real?

Is the Electra complex real? The Electra complex isn't widely accepted in psychology nowadays. As with many of Freud's theories, the feminine Oedipus attitude complex and the notion of “penis envy” is also widely criticized. Very little data actually supports the idea that the Electra complex is real.

Why do people have an Oedipus complex?

In the young boy, the Oedipus complex or more correctly, conflict, arises because the boy develops unconscious sexual (pleasurable) desires for his mother. ... These feelings for the mother and rivalry toward the father lead to fantasies of getting rid of his father and taking his place with the mother.