CASE STUDY 1: SIGMUND FREUD
By Jonah Marie D. Cecilia
1. What personality (or character) type does Hank display according to Freud- ian 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?
The personality type that Hank displayed in relation to the Freudian Theory is the aspect
of Id. The id is the feature of a child character within. As seen in the situation, Sally describes
Frank as a person who tends to be quite sarcastic and often says things to offend others. The id
talks about pleasure or avoiding the pain and always seeking. For instance, Hank seeks validation
through his coworkers, wanting to be appreciated and having the type of friendship. As well as,
wanting pleasure such as wanting a woman to solve all of his problems. Furthermore, the fixation
that Hank is at is called the “Oral Stage”. He most likely has the Oral-aggressive personality,
given that he can be aggressive and uses force to get what he wants. In particular, Hank berated
the waiter at the restaurant because he was dissatisfied with the service. As we observed, Hank
enjoys nail biting, overeating and making sarcastic comments. I believe that the Mother of Hank
made an impact in his current situation. Given that, she would stuff him a cookie or a bottle in
order to make Hank quiet when he was a baby. Correspondingly, Hank realizes at that time that
he has the ability to have the power over his mother.
2. Would Freudian theory describe Hank’s eating and argumentative behaviors as being internally
or externally motivated? Explain the motivation.
In this case, Hank’s eating and argumentative behaviors can be a source of internally
motivated. With the fixation stated earlier, most aspects of the “oral stage” are more influenced
by the parent which corresponds to the future of the child. Given this, it causes the child to decide
whether to adapt to this and has potential control of such events.
3. Find an example of a Freudian defense mechanism that Hank uses in this case. Explain it.
One of the defense mechanisms that Hank exhibited in this case is the aspect of
projection. Projection is one of the mechanisms that transfers the unacceptable thought to others.
For instance, Hank transferred his negative energy to the waiter when he was dissatisfied. As well
as, Hank thinking that Sally broke up with him due to his weight and not his ego.
4. Find an example of regression in the case study. Explain it.
An example of regression in the case study is when Hank continuously has something in
his mouth either food or cigarettes. Moreover, this corresponds to the fact that his mother placed
something in his mouth in order for him to calm down when he was a child. Unconsciously in the
present, Hank eats a pint of ice cream to feel better and relaxed, as well as lighting a cigarette.
Regression places a person back to childhood behaviors when faced with anxiety as Hank was
experiencing on account of his Mother.
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.
In a Freudian Theory aspect, Hank’s weight problem is tackled in a behavioral way. Due
to the fact that he finds comfort in his mother placing something in his mouth such as food which
corresponds to later behavioral problems. However, it may also be placed as a biological basis of
personality where weight may be a genetic passed down by his parents.
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 or improvement
occur during Freudian therapy?
One of the therapeutic techniques that could be used in this case is the free association
where the client may be free to speak anything that comes to their mind in order to assess the
client's feelings better. The state of consciousness that would be the focus of the therapy will be
unconsciousness. Given that the fixation that Hank occurs is in the “Oral Stage” such as
unconsciously overeating and biting on sarcastic comments. In the healing or improvement
process, I believe that a step to it is by improving oneself and taking care of himself consciously.
