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What anxiety did Hans experience according to Freud?

  1. Anxiety about exams

  2. Anxiety about touching his widdler

  3. Anxiety of social situations

  4. Anxiety about going to school

The correct answer is: Anxiety about touching his widdler

Hans experienced anxiety related to touching his widdler, which reflects the concept of castration anxiety in Freudian theory. According to Freud, castration anxiety occurs during the phallic stage of development, where children become aware of their genitalia and may fear that their sexually aggressive impulses toward the opposite sex may lead to punishment, particularly from the same-sex parent. In Hans's case, his fear of touching his widdler exemplifies the conflicts and fears typical in this developmental stage. Freud interpreted this behavior as a manifestation of deeper psychological conflicts related to his burgeoning sexuality and fear of the consequences associated with it. This anxiety plays a critical role in the child's development, influencing their relationships and identity formation later in life. The other options, while they relate to different forms of anxiety that could be valid within a general psychological context, do not specifically connect to the Freudian interpretation of Hans's fears and anxieties during the phallic stage. Therefore, touching his widdler is the most relevant concern in understanding Hans’s anxiety from a Freudian perspective.