A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What phobia did Little Hans develop according to his father?

1. Fear of snakes

2. Fear of darkness

3. Fear of horses

4. Fear of strangers

The correct answer is: Fear of horses

Little Hans, a child studied by Sigmund Freud, developed a phobia that involved an intense fear of horses. This case is significant in the context of Freud's theory of psychosexual development and his ideas about the Oedipus complex. Freud suggested that this fear was a manifestation of deeper unconscious conflicts related to Hans's feelings about his father and competition for his mother's attention. Little Hans's father reported that he exhibited extreme anxiety when encountering horses in real life or even when seeing pictures of them. The analysis of his phobia is particularly notable because Freud argued that the child's fear of horses symbolized broader psychological issues, particularly linked to his fear of castration associated with his father. This case study is often cited when discussing defense mechanisms and the symbolic nature of phobias in psychoanalytic theory. Understanding this context helps clarify the significance of the phobia beyond just the fear itself, illustrating how early childhood experiences and internal conflicts can influence behavior and emotional reactions.