Case Study :  Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Use Freud's states of consciousness and stages of psychosexual development to help explain Hank's behavior by answering the following questions.

1. What personality (or character) type does Hank display according to Freudian theory? Provide evidence for your answer. At what stage is Hank fixated, according to the Freudian perspective? Find evidence of fixation in the case study. What would have caused this fixation?

2. Would Freudian theory describe Hank's eating and argumentative behaviors as being internally or externally motivated? Explain the motivation.

3. Find an example of a Freudian defense mechanism that Hank uses in this description. Explain it.

4. Find an example of regression in the case study. Explain it.

5. Would a Freudian therapist view Hank's weight problem as a behavioral problem, in and of itself, or as a symptom of another problem? Explain.

6. What therapeutic techniques would a Freudian therapist, like the one in the case study, likely use? What state of consciousness would be the focus of therapy? How does healing/improvement occur during Freudian therapy?

THEORY COMPARISON QUESTIONS

1. What is an alternate explanation (besides Freud's) to explain Hank's eating and argumentative behaviors?

2. What aspect of Hank's behavior would be the focus of a therapist who is behaviorally oriented? What aspect would be the focus if the therapist were psychodynamically oriented?

3. Use Erikson's concept of lack of intimacy to explain Hank's problems in establishing long-term relationships with women. How does this differ from the Freudian explanation?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gexnm7ajyws69sa/case1.rar?dl=0