Freud (classic study)

Question 1

Background to this study

Answer 1

Freud had theorised the psychosexual stages of development for a child and he asked people he knew to observe children to get evidence for his theory

Question 2

All the psychosexual stages of development

Answer 2

Oral stage
Anal stage
Phallic stage
Latency stage
Genital stage

Question 3

The oral stage

Answer 3

Children gain satisfaction from sucking at mothers breast where lips are known as ‘erotogenic zone’ (feels pleasure there)

Question 4

The anal stage

Answer 4

The anus becomes an erotogenic zone and children feel pleasure from holding in faeces etc

Question 5

The phallic stage

Answer 5

For boys, this is the development of the Oedipus complex in which the boy is attracted to mother and attempts to eliminate the father after recognising parents relationship excludes them

Question 6

What is castration anxiety?

Answer 6

The fear boys will be castrated after the attraction to their mother is discovered
This is because they realise anatomical difference between girls and makes sense of it that girls were castrated since they have no penis

Question 7

How does the Oedipus complex end?

Answer 7

Boy attempts to emulate father instead of wanting to kill him

Question 8

Latency stage

Answer 8

Children directs attention to physical and mental development such as hobbies + making friends

Question 9

Genital stage

Answer 9

Onset of puberty causes sexual attraction to others, who Freud believed resembled the opposite sex parent

Question 10

Who was Little Hans?

Answer 10

The participant who was studied

Question 11

What type of research was this?

Answer 11

A longitudinal case study

Question 12

Sample method used

Answer 12

Opportunity - he was the child who’s parents knew Freud and his mother was a previous patient. Reported for his disorders (phobias)

Question 13

How was data collected in this study?

Answer 13

By hans’ father sending letters to Freud with information about hans, collected through the father asking hans questions

Question 14

How is Hans’s attraction to his mother (within Oedipus complex) shown?

Answer 14

Seduction attempts on his mother:
asked why his mother doesn’t touch his penis after being powdered
Said that his aunt said he had ‘ a dear little thingummy’

Question 15

What phobias did Hans have?

Answer 15

Fear of horses
Fear of carts specifically falling over
Fear of drowning in the bath

Question 16

What did Hans phobia of horses represent?

Answer 16

A manifestation of an unconscious fear of his father because the blinkers and muzzle represented his fathers moustache + glasses

Question 17

What did Hans phobia of carts represent?

Answer 17

A manifestation of his unconscious desire for his dad to fall over

Question 18

What did Hans phobia of drowning in the bath represent?

Answer 18

The manifestation of his unconscious guilt for wishing his sister would drown so he had his mum all for himself