Little Hans: a contemporary overview

The case of Little Hans, an unprecedented experimental child analytic treatment, is re-examined in the light of newer theory and newly derestricted documents. The understanding of the complex over-determination of Hans's phobia was not possible in the heroic age of psychoanalysis. Distance and de-idealization of the pioneer past have potentiated current reformulation of the case. Trauma, child abuse, parental strife, and the pre-oedipal mother-child relationship now emerge as important issues. With limited, yet remarkable help, Little Hans nevertheless had the ego strength and resilience to resume progressive development and to forge a successful creative career The new knowledge about Little Hans, his family, culture and child development provides new perspectives and raises new questions and challenges to the century-old pioneer report and formulations confirming and largely limited to the child's positive Oedipus complex.