Freud (1909) Analysis of a Phobia

Background:

Oral Stage 0-1:

• Erogenous zone: mouth
• Make libidinous demands.

Anal Stage 1-3:

• Membranes of rectum/anus.
• Erogenous zone: Bladder and bowel movement (toilet-training)
• Parents too strict: Anal-retentive personality = rigid, orderly, obsessive.
• Parents too lenient: Anal-expulsive = wasteful, messy, destructive.

Phallic Stage 3-5:

• Erogenous zone: Genitals (difference between males and females).
• Role in gender identity development.
• Oedipus complex: boys get jealous of dad and fancy the mum.
• Electra complex: Girls get jealous of mum and fancy the dad.
• Penis envy: Girls are insecure about their lack of a penis.

Latency Period 6 to puberty:

• Erogenous zone: None.
• Exploration of intellectual and social aspects of life.
• Develop self-confidence and social skills.

Genital Stage – Puberty on:

• Erogenous zone: Genitals
• Thinks of others as well as own satisfaction.

Aim:

• To test the theory of psycho-sexual development.
• To understand Hans fear of horses and how to treat it.

Sample:

Five-year-old boy – Little Hans.

The dad was a friend and supporter of Freud and his theories.

Procedure:

• Longitudinal Case study
• The dreams where interpretation by Freud
• Psychoanalysis was used for interpretation
• Hans never met Freud – the father carried out the case study and sent regular letters to him.

Results:

Boy showed interest to his “widdler” at age 3 and half and the mum threatened to send him to the doctor and cut it off. = Castration complex

                   Animals bigger widdlers = Father’s must be “like a horse”

Anxiety about losing his mother because his sister had all the attention – wished for his sister to be dropped in the bath = Hans being afraid to take baths in case his mum dropped him.

Sexual desires towards his mother, therefore he was resentful to share her with the Dad = death wish.

Horse Phobia              Scared of the “black bits around mouth” = father’s mustache

                            Scared of horse falling = father falling down (e.g. dies)

                       Fear of white horses = e.g. fear of therapists?

Giraffe Dream/Fantasy:

This resembled the morning exchange in the parental bed, which the dad often objected – the little giraffe was being shouted at by the big giraffe because it was taking away the crumpled giraffe but then it stopped as the little one sat on the crumpled one.

Big giraffe = daddy                                      

Crumpled giraffe = mummy               

Little Giraffe = Hans

 

Plumber dream/fantasy:

Plumber took away small penis and bottom and replaced them with large ones = Oedipus complex resolved.

Conclusion:

Hans resolved the Oedipus Complex when he identified with his father and understood that he will have his kids and wife one day.

This made him overcome the horse phobia.

Strengths:

 

• In-depth data: Case study produce a large amount of detailed data. Freud was able to gather a lot of qualitative data which led to new research ideas and information.

• Personal relationships: Hans talked about many things, such as dreams and desires, with his father. This made it possible for the child to be comfortable, which may have not have happened if Freud carries the case study himself.

• High Ecological Validity: Hans did not know he was being studied and it was in his natural environment. This made sure that he did not change his behaviour because he knew the aim and wanted to please the researcher or his father.

• Debriefing: Freud met Hans when he was older and informed him about the case study and what happened.

 

Weaknesses:

 

• Not Generalizable: The case study was revolved about Hans, therefore one only person. The findings cannot be applied to other children of his age since everyone is different.

• Demand Characteristics: Hans may have hidden some details in the fear that his father would not approve of them. He might have said things because he thought they were correct for the situation.

• Researcher Bias: The father might have interpreted things differently to reality, which could have lessened the objectivity even more. Also, there may have been extraneous factors since Hans’ father was a supporter of Freud.