Freud (1909)

Question 0

What is the Oedipus complex?

Answer 0

Three-way relationship dynamic between a child and the two parents in which the child attaches to the PPP sex parent
Same sex = rival

Question 1

What was the method design?

Answer 1

Clinical/longitudinal case study

Question 2

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 2

To give an account of a boy who was suffering from a phobia of horses and to use this to illustrate the existence of the Oedipus complex

Question 3

Describe the participants?

Answer 3

Jewish boy from Vienna, Austria
Five years old at the start of the study
Called little hans (Herbert Graf)
Phobia of horses
Father was a fan of freuds work and referred the case also helped to provide most info on hand to Freud

Question 4

What is meant by a clinical case study?

Answer 4

The participant is a patient undergoing therapy

Question 5

How many times did Freud see little hans

Answer 5

No more than twice

Question 6

How did Freud get info on hans?

Answer 6

Hans father conducted regular discussions with hans and passed these onto Freud
Freud analysed them in line with his theory
Results consisted of Freud’s analysis

Question 7

Case history - his little widdler

Answer 7

At three years of age, hands developed a great interest in his penis (widdler)
Reported that he played with it regularly
Mother got cross - threatened to cut it off if he didn’t stop
Developed a fear of castration

Question 8

What happened at the same time as hans fixation on his widdler?

Answer 8

Saw a horse collapse and die in the street, he was very upset as a result

Question 9

What happened at three and a half years old?

Answer 9

Baby sister was born and he was separated from her for a while when she was hospitalised

Question 10

What happened when hans was four years old?

Answer 10

Developed a phobia of horses
Specifically - he was afraid that a white horse would bite him
Father said the fear related to their large penises

Question 11

What happened at the same time as the phobia of horses developed?

Answer 11

Conflict between hans and his father developed
Father didn’t like that hans got into the parental bed and cuddled his mother in the morning
Hans phobia worsened to the extent that he wouldn’t leave the house
Also suffered attacks of general anxiety

Question 12

What happened by the age of five?

Answer 12

Phobia lessened - initially becoming limited white horses with black nose bands and blinkers

Question 13

What was hans’ dream?

Answer 13

Giraffes

Question 14

What were hans fantasies?

Answer 14

Plumber 1
Plumber 2
Family thing

Question 15

What was freuds interpretation of the dream?

Answer 15

Mum and dad

Question 16

What was freuds interpretation of the three fantasies?

Answer 16

Plumber 1 - be like dad
Plumber 2 - dad getting rid of him, back to womb
Family - he will be with mum, dad is displaced so hans is the mothers lover

Question 17

Conclusion?

Answer 17

Phobia of horses because of castration anxiety and Oedipus complex
Dreams and conflicts helped express conflicts and resolve Oedipus complex