Hazmann Attachment Theory
The Devil is widely abhorred through Christianity and is seen as the instigator towards any sinful action, however the idea of selling one’s soul to the devil for protection and servitude has been going on for decades. A popular example is the case of Christoph Haizmann the painter; he was a young painter who suffered from seizures and lived with his father (Freud 1923, p. 72). Using psychologist Kirkpatrick’s essay on the attachment theory, it is justified to why Freud’s analysis is the best explanation for Christoph Haizmann’s decision to sell his soul to the Devil. The attachment theory is an evolutionary situated system which is deeply important for survival of human beings (Kirkpatrick 1999, 803). Kirkpatrick (1999) finds that the
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Freud (1923) suggests that it is because he felt that the Devil represented his father the best (p. 81). The attachment theory explains that when an infant gives a signal to the parental figures, and they reply, the child grows up to feel confident and secure in their environment (Kirkpatrick 1999, p. 806). On the other hand, if a child receives mixed responses when they are an infant, that child will grow up tenacious (Kirkpatrick 1999, p. 814). Freud (1923) makes a point to mention how God is seen as a father-like figure which can be related to the father one grew up with (p. 84). If God is supposed to be an ethereal surrogate of a father, yet Haizmann chose the Devil to be his, it can be concluded that Haizmann most likely saw his father as a higher presence, but not a pure one. His attachment to his late father causes him to find a replacement, yet he cannot depend on God or any other heavenly figure because they are not close enough to his father in character. Interestingly, when Haizmann drew the devil, he gave it both male and female features to the Devil (Haizmann, n.d.). This gives a strong suggestion that he feels the Devil to not be a father-like figure for him, but also his motherly figure. Freud (1923) mentions how when Haizmann first met the devil, he looked like a modest man, but in the second meet, he was far more deformed and had woman’s breasts p.
Freud (1923) suggests that it is because he felt that the Devil represented his father the best (p. 81). The attachment theory explains that when an infant gives a signal to the parental figures, and they reply, the child grows up to feel confident and secure in their environment (Kirkpatrick 1999, p. 806). On the other hand, if a child receives mixed responses when they are an infant, that child will grow up tenacious (Kirkpatrick 1999, p. 814). Freud (1923) makes a point to mention how God is seen as a father-like figure which can be related to the father one grew up with (p. 84). If God is supposed to be an ethereal surrogate of a father, yet Haizmann chose the Devil to be his, it can be concluded that Haizmann most likely saw his father as a higher presence, but not a pure one. His attachment to his late father causes him to find a replacement, yet he cannot depend on God or any other heavenly figure because they are not close enough to his father in character. Interestingly, when Haizmann drew the devil, he gave it both male and female features to the Devil (Haizmann, n.d.). This gives a strong suggestion that he feels the Devil to not be a father-like figure for him, but also his motherly figure. Freud (1923) mentions how when Haizmann first met the devil, he looked like a modest man, but in the second meet, he was far more deformed and had woman’s breasts p.