Freud: Understanding Disorders (Individual Differences) Flashcards
What does Freud believe the sequence of the psychosexual stages are determined by?
Maturation (nature) and how the child is treated (nurture)
What are the 5 stages of psychosexual development?
Oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital
What different complexes do boys and girls experience in the phallic stage?
Boys experience the Oedipus complex and girls experience the Electra complex
What method did Freud use?
Longitudinal case study as it took place from when Little Hans was three until he was five
How was data collected in Freud’s study?
Little Hans’ father regularly observed and questioned Hans. He sent records of these events and conversations to Freud who intercepted the information and replied to Little Hans’ father with advice on how to proceed.
What was the background that led up to Little Hans’ phobias?
- Just before he was 3, Hans started to show interest in his widdler
- He had a tendency to masturbate and his mother threatened to cut it off
- He gained a sister at 3 and a half and subconsciously wished his mother would drop her in the bath
- Fear of horses after hearing a parent say not to put your finger near the white horse or it will bite you. Also say a horse pulling a carriage fall down and kick about with its legs
What three fantasies did Little Hans experience?
- The giraffe fantasy - a big giraffe and a crumpled one
- The parenting fantasy - he had several children with his mother and his dad was the grandfather
- The plumber fantasy - a plumber removed his bottom and penis and replaced them with new and larger ones
What key findings did Freud draw?
- Hans’ fear of horses was a subconscious fear of his father (blinkers looked like glasses) due to his Oedipus complex
- His fascination with his widdler was because he was experiencing the Oedipus complex
- Giraffes were a representation of him trying to take his mother away from his father so he could have her to himself
- Plumber fantasy interpreted as him now identifying with his father and the final family fantasy was interpreted as the resolution to the Oedipus complex
What did Freud conclude his study supported?
- His theory of psychosexual development
- That boys in the phallic stage experience the Oedipus complex
- Phobias are the product of unconscious anxiety displayed onto harmless external objects
- Unconscious determinism - people are not consciously aware of the cause of their behaviour
- Psychoanalytic therapy can treat disturbed thoughts
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research method in Freud’s study?
- Case study
- In depth information
- Subjective due to the close bond
- Not generalisable
- Observation and self report
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the type of data in Freud’s study?
- Qualitative
- Lots of detail
- Can’t be compared
- Subjective and not scientific
What are the ethical considerations for Freud study?
- Breach of confidentiality - name revealed
- Only the dad gave consent
- Didn’t have the right to withdraw
- Hans’ dad didn’t seem to deceive him
Can Freud’s study be considered valid?
- Extraneous variables
- Demand characteristics
- Children make things up
- Could have ecological validity
- Use of leading questions could make it less valid
Can Freud’s study be considered reliable?
- Low replicability
- Can’t exactly replicate a phobia because each individual is unique
Is there any sampling bias in Freud’s study?
- 1 participant
- Androcentric
- Middle class
