Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question refers to the Oedipus complex, a key concept in Freud's theory that occurs during the Phallic stage of psychosexual development (ages 3-6).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Oedipus complex describes a boy's feelings of unconscious sexual desire for his mother and, as a result, feelings of jealousy, rivalry, and hostility towards his father. The boy views his father as a competitor for his mother's affection. The resolution of this conflict, through identification with the father, is crucial for the development of the superego and a mature gender identity.
Step 3: Final Answer:
During the Oedipus period, the boy competes with his father for the affection of his mother.