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Castration anxiety refers to a child's fear of losing their genitals, typically associated with young boys during the phallic stage of psychosexual development, as proposed by Sigmund Freud. This concept is tied to the fears and anxieties that arise from the child's developing sense of sexuality and identity, particularly in relation to parental figures. In this context, boys might fear punishment or retaliation from their fathers, leading to an unconscious association between punitive measures and the loss of their genitalia. Castration anxiety plays a significant role in the development of male gender identity and can be a contributing factor in the dynamics of the Oedipus complex, where the boy becomes aware of his sexual feelings towards his mother and views his father as a rival.

In contrast, terms like the Oedipus complex and Electra complex describe broader theories regarding parental relationships and sexual development rather than the specific fear of losing genitals. Penis envy, associated with the female counterpart to castration anxiety, refers to a girl’s feelings of inferiority in not having a penis and is connected to the Electra complex. While these terms relate to psychosexual development, they do not precisely encapsulate the specific fear of losing one’s genitals that is defined by castration anxiety.