Which of the following stages involves a focus on friendships with peers of the same gender?

The correct answer, which highlights a focus on friendships with peers of the same gender, is indeed the latency stage. This stage, occurring roughly between the ages of 6 and puberty, is characterized by a decrease in sexual interests and the emergence of social and intellectual skills. During this period, children's attention shifts primarily towards developing same-gender friendships and engaging in non-sexual activities, such as sports, hobbies, and schoolwork.

This stage is critical for social development, as children learn to navigate relationships, share experiences, and establish their identities within peer groups. The friendships formed during the latency stage often lay the groundwork for future relationships and social skills.

In contrast, the other stages mentioned do not focus on same-gender friendships. The oral stage centers around infant behavior and the fixation on oral activities, while the phallic stage is marked by the development of sexual identity and relationships with parents rather than peers. The genital stage, which follows latency, brings about a resurgence of sexual interests and concerns related to romantic relationships, again not specifically focused on same-gender friendships. Therefore, the latency stage is the unique period where same-gender peer friendships predominate in child development.