Freud, S.

Sex role identification

The process through which boys acquire their masculine sex roles by resolving the Oedipus complex.

Psychosexual stages of development

Freud's theory that individuals pass through distinct stages (such as the phallic stage) that shape their personality based on their experiences.

Origins of phobias as unconscious conflicts

Freud's belief that phobias stem from unresolved unconscious conflicts, such as fear of castration linked to the Oedipus complex.

Phallic stage

A stage in psychosexual development where a child's interest focuses on the phallus, leading to the resolution of the Oedipus complex.

Oedipus complex

A child's desire for the opposite-sex parent and jealousy towards the same-sex parent, as seen in Hans' desire for his mother and fear of his father.

stage 1 of little Hans?

• starts to show great interest in phallus (widdler) - entering phallic stage

• curious about who does/doesn’t have a phallus - attempted to enter bathroom when an adult was in there,

• told by mother that if he continued to touch it, she would send for the doctor to cut it off - he persisted so continued discouragement,

• Mr Graf was regularly away on business - Hans would attempt to climb into bed with mother

• when asked why he tried to climb into bed, he said he’d had a ‘daydream’ - about a big, tall, loud giraffe who kept calling out and another crumpled giraffe (crumpled paper to demonstrate), caused Mr Graf to write to Freud,

what does freud conclude from stage 1 of little Hans

Hans was in the phallic stage. He had a severe Oedipus complex, desire for his mother. He will likely pass through but may have masturbatory indulgence and a fear of castration. Advised Mr Graf to talk to Hans and reassure him that castration wouldn’t happen.

stage 2 of little Hans

• develops a fear of horses, becoming scared to leave the house without his nursemaid and his mother,

• After talking to Hans - whilst waiting for Mr Graf to leave on business, Hans heard another man talking to his daughter saying “Don’t put your fingers near the white horse. It’ll bite you.”

• Mr Graf was encouraged to reiterate to Hans he wouldn’t be castrated, however his fear of horses increased becoming most fearful of large cart horses,

• Mr Graf then explained that one day when Hans had been out with his mother, he’d seen a bus horse fall sown and kick, presuming it was dying or going to be,

Freud’s conclusions from stage 2 of little Hans

1. Fear of castration had become unconsciously linked with the horse

2. Projection of his fears and resentment of his father due to his Oedipus complex, that his father’s glasses represented horse’s blinkers and his moustache represented the horse’s hair,

3. Hans had a severe Oedipus complex with a wish for his father to die so he could have his mother to himself,

Stage 3 of little Hans?

• Hans has another ‘daydream’ - “I was in the bath and a plumber came and unscrewed it [his widdler]. Then he took a big borer and stick it in my stomach,”

• Hans’ mother was pregnant - ‘daydream’ suggests he has some understanding of how this happened, fear and resentment of his father,

• Hans was scared of shire horses pulling heavy laden carts - some of fear comes from fear of his mother’s pregnancy,

• after his mother had given birth to his sister, Hans became scared of having a bath,

• when Mr Graf spoke to him, Hans said he was scared of the big bath not the little bath as he could go under the water [and drown] in the big bath,

• Mr Graf tried to reassure him by saying ‘mummy gives you a bath’,

• He then asks “perhaps it was because you were naughty and thought she didn’t love you anymore,” - Hans replied yes, he thought he was going to be punished {leading question},

• Next, he asks “when you watch mummy give your sister a bath, do you wish she would let her go?” - Hans replied yes,

Freud’s conclusions from stage 3 of little Hans?

the idea of the bath was linked to the idea he didn’t want his sister to be there,

stage 4?

pretend friend - Lodi from Saffalodi (sausage) → showed he was still in the phallic stage

likely appeared as he was getting less attention from his mother due to Hanna

Hans develops a fear of going to the toilet - anal retention, regression → led to stress constipation

stage 4 conclusion

fear of lumf evidenced by pretend friend, highlights he is still in the phallic stage

stage 5?

Mr Graf watched hans playing Mummies and Daddies with his pretend friends

Hans explains:

• he was the dad

• the mum was his own mum

• the grandad was his own dad

Hans has another daydream:

• “plumber came in and took away my behind with pincers”

• “then he gave me another one”

• “and then he did the same with my widdler”

Mr Graf then asks Hans - “was your bottom and your widdler bigger?” - Y

“like daddy’s?” - Y

stage 5 conclusions?

Oedipus complex resolving → fears would then resolve too

Hans successfully moved through the phases of development