little hans study

• little hans was a 5 year old boy with a phobia of horses, like all clinical case studies, the aim was to treat the phobia
• although the aim was to treat the phobia, Freud's therapeutic input in this case was minimal and a secondary aim was to explore what factors may have led to the phobia in the first place, and what other factors led to its remission.
• from around three years of age little Hans showed an interest in 'Widdlers', both his own penis and of other males including animals. His mother threatens to cut off his 'Widdler' unless he stops playing with it
• Hans's fear of horses worsened and he was reluctant to go out in case he met a horse, Frued linked this fear to the horse's large penis, the phobia improved, relating only to horses with black harnesses over their noses. Hans's father suggested this symbolised his moustache
• Freud's interpretation linked Hans's fear to the oedipus complex, the horses (with black harnesses and big penises) unconsciously representing the fear of his father
• Freud finally concluded/suggested Hans resolved this conflict as he fantasised about himself having a big penis and married his mother. This allowed Hans to overcome his castration anxiety and identify with his father