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What developmental stage did Freud claim Little Hans was in during the study?

  1. Oral stage

  2. Anal stage

  3. Phallic stage

  4. Latency stage

The correct answer is: Phallic stage

Freud claimed that Little Hans was in the phallic stage of psychosexual development during the study. This stage typically occurs between the ages of three and six years, a period when children become more aware of their bodies and develop their sexual identity. In the context of Little Hans, Freud observed that the boy's fears and anxieties were linked to his developing awareness of his genitals and the differences between males and females, especially regarding his relationships with his parents. The phallic stage is characterized by the Oedipus complex, where a child feels desire for the opposite-sex parent and hostility towards the same-sex parent. Little Hans' experiences, including his phobia of horses, were interpreted as symbolic expressions of his conflicts during this stage. By integrating these concepts into understanding his behavior, Freud was able to elaborate on the dynamics at play during the phallic stage of development.