Freud

• What's the aim of Freud's study?


  The aim of the study was to report the findings of the treatment of a five-year-old boy for hisphobia of horsesand to find evidence for Freuds theories ofpsychosexual developmentand theOedipus complex.
• What was the sample used in Freud's study? (3)

  One boy called Little Hans, from Vienna Austria. Aged 3-5 years old.
• What was the sampling technique used in Freud's study?

  Opportunity sampling: Little Hans was referred to Freud by his father, early supporter of Freud and member of the psychoanalytic society.
• What was the research method used in Freud's study and explain why?

  Longitudinal: Observations and conversations of one boy (Hans) were made from the age of 3–5.Freud was able to track how hands progressed to the Oedipus complex over two years – his struggles and how he resolved it.Case study: Hans unique phobia of white horses, data collected from numerous interviews and observations of hands with father, then sent to Freud via letters to be interpreted.=LONGITUDINALCASE STUDY
• What is the procedure in Freud's study?

  Many measurements of Hans' behaviour were taken using observations and conversations that Hans' father had with Hans. These were then communicated to Freud via letter in a qualitative form. Freud then interpreted this behaviour and tried to find evidence for how they illustrated Hans' progression through the phallic stage and Oedipus complex.
• What were the results in Freud's study? (4)

  Fear of white horses: Little Hans’fear of white horseswas considered by Freud as the subconsciousfear of his father. This because the bridle+ blinkers resembled the moustache and glasses worn by his father. He was fearful of his father because he was experiencing theOedipus complex.

  Giraffe dream:Hans’ day dream about giraffes was a representation of him trying to take his mother away from his father so he could have her to himself – Another feature of the Oedipus complex.

  Widdler: Hans’ fascination with his “widdler“ was because he was experiencing the Oedipus complex.

  Plummer fantasy: Hans’ Fantasy about the Plummer was interpreted as him now identifying with his father and the final family fantasy was interpreted as the resolution of the Oedipus complex.
• What were the conclusions made in Freud's study?

  1. Hans' had an interest in widdlers (phallic stage) and it seems that Hans' problem came from the conflict between the love for his mother and friend of his father. Hans' Fantasy of looking after children with his mother supported this as well and is symbolic of the Oedipus wish.

  
  

  2. Through his fantasies and symbolic fear of force biting. Freud suggested that horses have characteristics which are symbolic of moustaches and glasses and Hans' try to displaces fear of his father onto the horses, therefore seems to show that the Oedipus complex does exist.
• What are some strengths of the research method used in Freud's study? (2)

  -The case study method allows psychologists to investigate unique cases of behaviour that are not available to study frequently. For example, in this study by Freud, the opportunity arose to study a young boy with a phobia who according to Freud’s theory would be in the phallic stage of development. This is an advantage because it helps us toincrease academic psychological knowledgeof the factors that influence our behaviour, which may have been impossible to study using any other method of research.

  -Another strength is that it produces in-depth, detailed information about a particular person or condition,increasing internal validity. For example, the study by Freud included gathering detailed data about Hans’ behaviour, dreams and conversations with his father and mother, which lasted for several years, from the age of three to five. This is an advantage because the data gathered could then be beneficial to the treatment of the individual involved as well as benefiting psychological knowledge.
• What are some weaknesses of the research method used in Freud's study? (2)

  -Case studies often have very small sample sizes, in this case, it only relates to one individual. For example, this was only looking at little Hans and his unique phobia of horses we, therefore, have no way of assessing how typical Little Hans is. This is a disadvantage because it means we have to be careful generalising from the findings. After all, although it appears that the Oedipal conflict does exist it does not tell us how universal/common it is,lowering population validity.

  -Another disadvantage is that because the case study method occurs over a long period of time, this can affect the researchers’ ability to collect objective data. For example, in this case study the data is mainly collected by Hans’ father which was then discussed with Freud who interpreted Hans' father's interpretation of his son's phobia! Freud only saw Little Hans once. Therefore, it can be argued that this leads to a drastic reduction in objectivity, particularly as the father (Max Graf) was a supporter of Freud’s ideas. This is a disadvantage as it affects thevalidityof the data gathered as it is possible that the conclusions reached were not, in fact, a true reflection of why Hans was afraid of horses.
• What is a strength of the type of data collected in freud's study?

  Thestrengthof collecting qualitative data is you can generate information about the reasons behind behaviour in detail, finding out ‘why’ behaviour occurred. It was also very important for Freud to use this type of data as he was interested in the analysis of dreams and symbols in what Hans said and so collecting qualitative data was essential so that Freud could look for patterns in his fears and anxieties,increasing internal validity.
• What is a weakness of the type of data collected in freud's study?

  Theweaknesswith collecting qualitative data is that it is difficult to analyse and so is open to misinterpretation on the part of the researcher. In this study the main issue is the lack of objectivity in the analysis. It is very likely that Freud’s theories and Hans’ father’s knowledge of them directly affected all of the analysis of Little Hans behaviour. Therefore,reducing the validity and scientific natureof the data gathered.
• What is a strength that Freud's study is a longitudinal study?

  Anadvantageof this was the fact that Freud could study the changes and developments in Hans’ behaviour over time, which was vital to understanding the triggers and causes of his phobia. This also helped to collect detailed information that would further help to ‘treat’ Hans’ phobia successfully.
• What is a weakness that Freud's study is a longitudinal study?

  Aweaknessof the study being longitudinal is that as the study was carried out over a long period of time and vast amounts of data were collected, it is open to researcher bias and the data gathered is less objective. This means that Freud may have interpreted the data in the way that he wanted to ensuring it supported his theories of psychosexual stages and the Oedipus complex. Therefore,reducing the validityof the data gathered.
• Explain how Freud's study can be said to have a high ecological validity?

  As Freud took the opportunity to study Hans via his father in his own home, the situation Hans was studied in clearly represented real-life. Therefore, the study can be said to havehigh ecological validityas the notes corresponded to Freud on relevant conversations and the behaviour of Hans occurred in and around his own house. We can argue then, that this shows the development and treatment of a phobia in a real-life situation using Psychodynamic principles (Freudian techniques).
• What is a strength of the sample in Freud's study?

  Astrengthof the sample is that Little Hans is in the phallic stage of development (3-5 years) and the findings from the therapy can therefore be used to find evidence to support or challenge Freud’s theories of psychosexual development and the Oedipus complex.
• What are weaknesses of the sample in Freud's study? (2)

  -Aweaknessof the sample is that only one boy (Little Hans) is studied therefore meaning that any findings from the study could be unique to Little Hans. This means that any findings supporting or challenging the psychosexual stages and Oedipus complex cannot be generalised to other young boys.

  -Androcentrism - The practice of placing males, men and male issues at the centre of one’s view.A major problem with Freud’s explanations is that they are androcentric. This study describes the Oedipus complex, which is, of course, unique to boys.
• How is Freud's study ethnocentric?

  Ethnocentrism –Placing the views of one’s ethnicity or cultural group at the centre of research.The idea of the Oedipus complex is ethnocentric because Freud assumed that all boys must experience this stage. However Freud was writing about a particular group of people at a particular period of time. The group of people were middle-class, educated Europeans who live in small family groups. Many cultures now day including our own do not have families consisting of a Mother and Father living together in one home. People in other cultures are less literate, which means that psychoanalysis may not be relevant.
• How does Freud's study illustrate the reductionism debate?

  Focuses on psychodynamic explanation (conflicts in the unconscious mind), ignoring alternative explanations such as behaviourism (classical conditioning).
• How does Freud's study illustrate the holism debate?

  Freud's study shows how a phobia develops through both nature (psychosexual stages of development) and nurture (life experiences).
• How does Freud's study illustrate the free will debate?

  If people engage in techniques such as psychoanalysis, they choose to explore their unconscious conflicts, bringing them to the conscious and allowing them/therapists to treat the disorder/unusual behaviour.
• How does Freud's study illustrate the determinism debate?

  Freud argues the development of our personality is determined by successful progression through the psychosexual stages, and that conflicts between the Id and Superego that are not resolved lead to problems later in life (such as mental health disorders), therefore out of our control.
• How is Fred's study useful?

  Rich insightful datagathered about how phobias develop over time, adding to our knowledge of psychodynamics.Hasuseful practical applications(e.g. psychoanalysis) that can uncover the root of mental health disorders, and are still used today.
• How does Freud's study have limited usefulness?

  Very limited sample- only one boy and his unique phobia so limits the knowledge we can gainHighly subjective data- both from Hans father and Freud himself, limits generalisability
• How is Freud's study ethical?

  Informed consent: Although under age, Freud gained to consent of Hans’ father to analyse the phobias in his son.
• How is Freud's study unethical?

  Protection of participants: Little Hans ran the risk of emotional and psychological harm due to the prodding of his phobias and fantasies, he may have suffered anxiety as he was only a childInvasion of Privacy: Due to the conversations and analysis of Little Hans dreams, the account of his early life was publically available.
• How is Freud's study socially sensitive?

  Research into disorders is socially sensitive; it has consequences that potentially negatively affect specific groups or society in general. For example, Freud's research suggests that the reason people have phobias is because of unconscious repressed emotions from their childhood. This could lead to feelings of stigma or shame in those who suffer from phobias due to the sensitive nature of the issues explored in the research and feelings of exclusion in society, especially boys
• How would you change the sample size in Freud's study and why would you change it?

  Increase the sample size to 50 people from a variety of countries (e.g. Brazil, USA, China etc.) with a variety of phobiasWhy?To increase the representativeness of the sample and to gather more data from a variety of people
• What are the positive implications of increasing the sample size in Freud's study?

  Increasedpopulation validityas able to see patterns in development of phobias in more people, so can generalise to a wider target population
• What are the negative implications of increasing the sample size in Freud's study?


  Difficultiescontrolling extraneous variablesin each country- have no control over how data is collected i.e. if they give the same level of depth, do it at the same time etc.
• How would you change the data collection method in Freud's study and why would you change it?

  Use a questionnaire with both open and closed questions to gather data, give to ppts once every month over the longitudinal study

  To gather less subjective data, which is easier to analyse and not as biased
• What are the positive implications of changing the data collection method in Freud's study?

  Increasedscientific nature-more objective data collected (from closed questions) and more reliable (easier to check for consistency)
• What are the negative implications of changing the data collection method in Freud's study?

  Open tosocial desirability bias-may lie about their phobias/anxieties to appear more ‘normal’ reducing the validity