freud

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

report on the treatment of a 5-yr-old boy’s phobia of horses

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

Little Hans

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

2yrs case study

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

• Letters written by H’s father to F describing his dreams and fantasies (2nd hand info)
• F would respond to explain their meaning
• One interview w/ H asking about his phobia
• treatment continued until end of phobia

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

• F believed H experienced Oedipus complex bc of 3 fantasies
  1. big and small giraffe representing parents
  2. plumber replacing bottom + “widdler” for bigger vers. like dad’s
  3. wanting to marry and have children with mum
• Interview with H showed projection of fear of father onto horses (dark circles round mouth and eyes symbolic of father’s glasses and moustache)

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

Strengths:

• Case studies useful in revealing + treating abnormal behaviours bc. long period of time
• Relationship between H + father reveals lots more info thus data = more valid

Weaknesses:

• Small sample thus can’t generalise
• Freud’s interpretation of father’s interpretation thus less objective bc. father believed in Freud’s concepts; biased
• Leading qs = demand characteristics (thus less accurate)