Freud Flashcards
What was the aim of Freud ‘s study?
To give an account of a boy who was suffering from a phobia of horses and a range of other symptoms, and to use this case to illustrate the existence of the Oedipus complex.
Who was the participant in Freud’s study?
A Jewish boy from Vienna, Austria. He was 5 years old at the start if the study, although some events were recorded from a couple of years earlier. He was called Little Hans in the study (Herbert Graf). Little Hans was suffering from a phobia of horses. His father, a fan of Freud’s work, referred the case to Freud and went on to provide much of the case information.
What was the design of Freud’s study?
Clinical case study- meaning the p is a participant undergoing therapy. However Freud did not see little Hans anymore than twice. Hans’ father conducted regular discussions with Hans and passed these on to Freud, who analysed then in line with his theory.
Give a overview of the case history of Freud’s study
3 years old- great interest in his ‘widdler’. He played with it regularly and his mum threatened to get it chopped off. Developed a fear of castration. Around the same time he saw a horse collapse and die in the street and his baby sister was born.
At 4 he developed a phobia of horses- specifically that a white horse would bite him- fear of their large penises.
HAd a habit of getting in to bed and cuddling his mother. suffered attacks of generalised anxiety where he wouldn’t leave teh house.
Age 5 his phobia lessened becoming limited to white horses, with thick pieces of harness and blinkers in front of their eyes which was likened to Hans; father (moustache and glasses)
What was the giraffe fantasy and what did this mean in Freud’s study?
Hans dreamed that there were two giraffes in his room at night. One was large and the other ‘crumpled’. Hans took the crumpled giraffe away from the large one, which cried out. He then sat on the crumpled one.
Freud said that this represented his parents. The large giraffe represented his father objecting to Hans. The crumpled giraffe represented Hans’s mother, the crumpling representing her genitals. The large giraffe, with its erect neck could have been a penis symbol.
What was the children fantasy and what did this mean?
Fantasised that he had several children. When his father asked who their mother was Hans replied “why mummy, and you’re the grandaddy’
Freud said This represented a relatively friendly resolution of the Oedipus complex in which Hans replaces his father as his mother’s main love object, but the father still has the role of grandfather.
What was the plumber fantasy and what did this mean?
Hans fantasised that a plumber had come and removed his bottom and penis, replacing them with new and larger ones..
This represented an identification with the father. By this we mean that Hans could see himself growing a large penis like his father’s and becoming like him.
What were the conclusions given for Freud’s study?
Hans suffered a phobia or horses because he was suffering from castration anxiety and going through the Oedipus complex. Dreams and fantasies helped express this conflict and eventually he resolved his Oedipus complex by fantasising himself taking on his father’s role and placing his father in the role of grandfather.
What is meant by Oedipus complex?
A term used to describe the three-way relationship between a child and the two parents. In which the child attaches strongly to the opposite sex parent, and starts to see the same-sex parent as a rival
What are some practical applications of Freud’s study?
This case study has been extensively used by psychotherapists for training purposes. In addition it is hard to study the Oedipus complex, but this case gives some evidence, however imperfect.
What is the key theme of Freud’s study?
Understanding disorders
