After leaving the phallic stage, they embark on the latency stage where they will remain from the age of five until puberty (11-13 years). With the new ability to control impulses, the libidinal instinct loses power and takes a back seat. Children do not have as much sexual curiosity or fascination. The energy is redirected towards academics, sports, and other activities. They also begin to develop social skills and are able to properly communicate with people not in their family. The children also form contacts with other key figures, such as teachers, coaches, and other caretakers. When a person completes this stage, they become more decisive and are able to function more independently. The child also creates goals and gain a sense of satisfaction when those goals are attained. People who remain in this stage will lack the ability to control and may never achieve an interest to learn. These people may also end their personality development here and will not develop at all in the next stage, causing them to have obsessive character traits (Kaplan and Sadock, Synopsis of Psychiatry 214).
