Freud Flashcards
Freuds theory of psychosexual development
He believed that sexual impulses are present in the new born child and they seek satisfaction through their own body
What were the five stages of development?
-Oral
-Anal
-Phallic
-Latency
-Genital
Oral stage
Child is fascinated with putting things in their mouth, can manifest as thumb sucking as a replacement for breastfeeding.
Anal stage
Usually during potty training, when children keep there excrement inside them until they experience contractions.
Phallic stage
The child starts to see a difference in male and female bodies. Boys fear girls were castrated for playing with their penis.
Latency stage
The Childs interest is diverted to sports, friendships, hobbies, etc.
Genital stage
The intensity of their sexual desires increases, but they move onto people who resemble their parents.
Oedipus complex
Where young boys experience a sexual desire for their mother, and see their father as a rival and wish they would disappear.
Castration anxiety
Part of the oedipus complex: a boys fear after seeing a naked female for the first time, that he will lose his penis.
Phobia
An anxiety disorder characterised by persistent fear out of proportion to the danger, and a compelling desire to escape the situation.
Psychoanalysis
A form of therapy that is intensive and long term, in which the aim is to alleviate stress by giving the patient insight into unconscious mental processes.
Aim of the study
To provide evidence for psychosexual development theory using psychoanalysis of dreams and fantasies of a child ‘Little Hans’ with nervous disorder.
Define ‘case study method’
Where a small group of participants are studied in depth; often participants are unusual in some way.
What was the sample for Freud’s study?
-One boy given pseudonym ‘Little Hans’
-Studied from around his third birthday for two years (1906-08)
-From Vienna, Austria
-Bought up with ‘minimal force’
-Described as a ‘lively, cheerful’ baby from the time Freud met him before the study
What was the sampling method?
-Self-selecting
-Freud put out a call asking for supporters to send information about their child’s development
-Hans’ father was one such supporter that he volunteered his child ‘Little Hans’
