Freud Flashcards
What psychological theory was Freud’s study based on?
Psychoanalytic theory, which emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind, childhood experiences, and the Oedipus complex on behavior.
What was Freud’s key concept related to child development?
Psychosexual stages, particularly the phallic stage (3–6 years), where children develop unconscious sexual desires for the opposite-sex parent.
How did Freud gather data for this study?
Through correspondence with Little Hans’ father, who recorded Hans’ behaviors, dreams, and fears, and discussed them with Freud.
What was the main aim of Freud’s study of Little Hans?
To provide evidence for the Oedipus complex, part of Freud’s psychosexual theory of development.
What did Freud believe about Little Hans’ phobia?
That it was a symbolic manifestation of repressed anxieties related to his unconscious sexual desires for his mother and rivalry with his father.
Who was the participant in Freud’s study?
Herbert Graf, known as Little Hans, a 5-year-old Austrian boy.
Why was Little Hans chosen as a case study?
His father was a supporter of Freud’s work and observed signs of psychosexual development, particularly a phobia of horses.
What type of sampling was used in the study?
It was an opportunity sample, as Freud studied Hans due to his father’s involvement in psychoanalysis.
What method did Freud use to analyze Hans?
A longitudinal case study using observations, dreams, and discussions reported by Hans’ father to Freud.
How did Hans’ father contribute to the study?
He observed Hans’ behavior, recorded his fears and dreams, and discussed them with Freud, who then interpreted them.
Did Freud directly interact with Little Hans?
Only on one or two occasions—most of the data came from Hans’ father’s reports.
What specific fear did Little Hans develop?
A phobia of horses, particularly those with black bits around their mouths and blinkers.
How did Freud interpret this phobia?
Freud believed it symbolized Hans’ unconscious fear of his father, as horses resembled his father’s glasses and mustache.
What did Hans fear would happen to him when he saw a horse?
That a horse would bite him, which Freud linked to castration anxiety from the Oedipus complex.
How did Hans show unconscious sexual desires for his mother?
He expressed interest in his mother’s body, wanted her to touch his “widdler”, and showed jealousy toward his father.
How did Hans express rivalry with his father?
He said things like “Daddy, don’t trot away!”, showing fear of losing his father’s affection but also resentment.
He said things like “Daddy, don’t trot away!”, showing fear of losing his father’s affection but also resentment.
The big giraffe (father) and the crumpled giraffe (mother) symbolized his desire to possess his mother and remove his father.
How did Hans’ phobia improve?
Over time, as Hans identified with his father and the Oedipus complex resolved, his phobia faded.
What did Hans’ fantasy about becoming a father suggest?
He was moving past the Oedipus complex, accepting that he could have a wife and children of his own in the future.
How did Freud view the resolution of Hans’ fears?
As evidence that his psychoanalytic theory was correct—Hans overcame his unconscious conflicts by identifying with his father.
What was Freud’s main conclusion?
Hans’ phobia and fantasies supported Freud’s Oedipus complex theory, showing that children unconsciously desire their opposite-sex parent.
What broader claim did Freud make?
That childhood sexual development and unconscious conflicts play a crucial role in shaping personality.
How did Freud view the treatment of Hans?
He believed psychoanalysis helped Hans resolve his anxieties without medical intervention.
Why is the case study method a strength?
It provided rich, detailed insights into Hans’ thoughts, behaviors, and emotions over time. The longitudinal nature allowed Freud to track changes and explore unconscious motivations deeply.
Why was Freud’s study groundbreaking?
It was one of the first studies to provide clinical evidence for psychoanalytic concepts like the Oedipus complex. It influenced the development of psychoanalysis as a therapeutic approach and theories on child development.
Why is the study’s sample a limitation?
It was based on a single child (Little Hans), making it hard to apply the findings to other children. His father was a Freudian supporter, which may have influenced his reports and Hans’ behavior.
Why might Freud’s interpretations be biased?
He was looking for evidence to support his theory, so he may have over-interpreted Hans’ behavior. The study lacks scientific objectivity and may reflect Freud’s own expectations rather than true unconscious desires. This reduces the validity of the findings.
What alternative explanation could explain Hans’ phobia?
Classical conditioning—Hans may have seen a horse accident, leading to fear through association, rather than unconscious conflicts. This suggests Hans’ fear was learned from experience, not a symbol of repressed desires.
What ethical concerns are raised by Freud’s study and what does this mean for the study’s credibility?
Lack of informed consent (Hans was too young to fully agree).
Psychological harm (discussing sexual thoughts may have caused distress).
It raises concerns about whether it was ethical to analyze a child’s unconscious desires in this way.
