Freud's theory (1909) regarding Hans' development of his horse phobia was due to his Oedipal conflicts, his castration anxieties, the father's prohibition and retaliation...yada yada yada...
A further, simpler, and much more contemporary explanation for Hans' phobia is that he was classically conditioned to fear horses. Hans, as a young boy, had witnessed a horse fall and collapse in the street. Hans then generalised this fear to all horses.
Psychoanalysis really 'grinds my gears' sometimes!!!
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