The aim of this paper is to review the material of Little Hans and to see to what extent it confirms or refutes the theory of the phallic phase. Or, to express it more simply, to discover whether Little Hans believes women have a penis or a vagina.

Without overlooking the many weighty methodological obstacles confronting this task, the author is decidedly of the opinion that Little Hans recognizes penis and vagina, whilst at the same time effecting a defensive displacement from the genital to the urinary which escapes Freud. With a certain irreverence, perhaps, this author maintains that, in this instance, Little Hans' theories are better than the great innovator's. In fact, this paper attempts to show that Little Hans was aware that the vagina existed and that, in addition, the context of the (brilliant) discovery of the castration complex determined the fact that Freud, satisfied with what he had achieved, neglected to investigate Little Hans' primary scene, something which years later he was to do with the Wolf Man.