Little Hans is a pseudonym for Herbert Graf, born in 1903 in Vienna.
Son of Max Graf, a Viennese music critic and follower of Freud.
Little Hans' case was primarily documented through letters between his father and Freud.
Key Events and Symptoms
Traumatic Event: At age 4, Hans witnessed a horse collapse, leading to a fear of horses, especially those with certain features (e.g., black around the eyes, wearing blinkers).
Genital Preoccupation: Hans was curious about male genitals, calling it his "widdler."
Sibling Jealousy: After the birth of his sister, Hans exhibited jealousy and wished harm upon her.
Freud's Interpretation
Oedipus Complex: Freud interpreted Hans' fears and fantasies through this lens.
Hans' fear of horses symbolized fear of his father, whom he saw as a rival for his mother's affection.
The horse's black features were seen as representing his father's moustache and spectacles.
Hans had fantasies of having children with his mother, viewing his father as a grandfather.
Dreams and fantasies were interpreted as reflections of conflict between desire for the mother and fear of the father.
Treatment Process
The father worked with Freud's guidance to analyze Hans' behavior and dreams.
Freud only met Hans once; most of the case study was conducted through correspondence.
Criticisms of the Case Study
Bias and Influence: Max Graf’s prior knowledge of Freud’s theories may have influenced the interpretation.
Generalizability: The study lacked population validity, as it was based on one individual.
Hans' Retrospective View: As an adult, Hans did not recall his childhood discussions and viewed his case history as unfamiliar.
Conclusion
The case of Little Hans is often cited as evidence of the Oedipus complex but has been criticized for methodological weaknesses.
Freud used the case to support his broader theories of childhood development.
Recommendations: For more case studies and Freud's analysis, explore other lectures or watch videos on similar topics.