Chapter 6
Karen Horney
- Interested in psychoanalysis.
- Concluded:
- That behaviour is shaped more by a person’s culture rather than by biology or
sexuality.
- When conflict arises, look to the interaction between the person and their
environment rather than opposing forces in the personality.
- Each culture generates its own fears.
The view of the person underlying the theory
- Horney has an opitimistic view of humanity → personality inherently tends
towards constructive development and growth. (Inherent growth principle
replaces Freud’s id).
- Horney’s views regarding personality and psychotherapy are based on the supposition
that people have an inherent drive and capacity to grow and realise their potential to
the fullest.
- Believes that people's inherent nature is constructive (like Adler believes, not like Freud).
- People can shape & change their personality.
- Rejects Freudian notion that human behaviour is determined by instinct. She believes
that every person has the potential to achieve self-actualisation.
The Structure of the personality
➔ Horney believes it NB to understand the psychodynamics of the personality.
➔ Three selves:
◆ Idealised self: product of feeling inferior. Common in societies that place high
value on prestige & competition. Unconsciously created in an attempt to deal with
anxiety & to compensate for the feeling of inferiority. A superior image of
themself.
◆ Actual self: Represents a person as they consciously act daily. Rejected by the
idealised self as it often does not meet its demands.
◆ Real self: Emerges once the person has given up all techniques for dealing with
anxiety & resolving conflict. Urges the person to grow and be self-fulfilled. “Alive,
unique, personal centre of ourselves”.
The Dynamics of the personality
, ➔ Growth principle → All energy is naturally channelled in a way to ensure that the
individual will develop to their full potential.
➔ This energy can be blocked by ‘anti-natural’ influences → parents, culture,
etc.
➔ People’s development can be hampered by their interaction with the environment.
A person’s basic needs according to Horney:
- The need for security or safety → to free from threat or anxiety.
- The need for satisfaction → satisfaction of physiological needs- food, sex, etc.
At first, a child is dependent on their parents and environment for the satisfaction of physical &
psychological needs. This dependence may lead to neurosis or feelings of inferiority.
What inhibits growth according to Horney?
➔ When parents act with real love & warmth, they create an atmosphere in which needs
can be satisfied & growth can take place.
◆ Genuine interest in the child, respect, warmth, reliability, etc.
➔ Parents irresponsibility & ‘neuroticising cultural influences’ (conflicting cultural values)
may prevent the fulfillment of needs.
What happens if need-fulfilment is hampered / prevented?
➔ Leads to basic hostility & basic anxiety:
◆ Basic hostility: Result of child’s conflicting experiences in interaction
with the environment → they are psychologically & physically
dependent on the environment but feel the environment is hostile (if
needs for warmth & love aren’t met). → the world is out to cheat, betray,
humiliate.
◆ Basic anxiety: Persuasive feeling of helplessness experienced when a
child is unable to cope with the environment. → Feeling lonely, helpless in
a hostile world.
➔ Factors in parent-child relationships that give rise to hostility & anxiety: indifference, lack
of respect, lack of guidance, unreliable warmth, having to take sides of parents in
arguments.
➔ Culture-specific factors: Western culture of the 20th century promotes neurosis (such as
the adherence to conflicting values).
How do people deal with basic hostility & anxiety?
● Both are repressed and unconscious.
● Initially believed to be manifested as neurotic needs → later linked to
reactions or relations to others, constituting a interpersonal style.
Karen Horney
- Interested in psychoanalysis.
- Concluded:
- That behaviour is shaped more by a person’s culture rather than by biology or
sexuality.
- When conflict arises, look to the interaction between the person and their
environment rather than opposing forces in the personality.
- Each culture generates its own fears.
The view of the person underlying the theory
- Horney has an opitimistic view of humanity → personality inherently tends
towards constructive development and growth. (Inherent growth principle
replaces Freud’s id).
- Horney’s views regarding personality and psychotherapy are based on the supposition
that people have an inherent drive and capacity to grow and realise their potential to
the fullest.
- Believes that people's inherent nature is constructive (like Adler believes, not like Freud).
- People can shape & change their personality.
- Rejects Freudian notion that human behaviour is determined by instinct. She believes
that every person has the potential to achieve self-actualisation.
The Structure of the personality
➔ Horney believes it NB to understand the psychodynamics of the personality.
➔ Three selves:
◆ Idealised self: product of feeling inferior. Common in societies that place high
value on prestige & competition. Unconsciously created in an attempt to deal with
anxiety & to compensate for the feeling of inferiority. A superior image of
themself.
◆ Actual self: Represents a person as they consciously act daily. Rejected by the
idealised self as it often does not meet its demands.
◆ Real self: Emerges once the person has given up all techniques for dealing with
anxiety & resolving conflict. Urges the person to grow and be self-fulfilled. “Alive,
unique, personal centre of ourselves”.
The Dynamics of the personality
, ➔ Growth principle → All energy is naturally channelled in a way to ensure that the
individual will develop to their full potential.
➔ This energy can be blocked by ‘anti-natural’ influences → parents, culture,
etc.
➔ People’s development can be hampered by their interaction with the environment.
A person’s basic needs according to Horney:
- The need for security or safety → to free from threat or anxiety.
- The need for satisfaction → satisfaction of physiological needs- food, sex, etc.
At first, a child is dependent on their parents and environment for the satisfaction of physical &
psychological needs. This dependence may lead to neurosis or feelings of inferiority.
What inhibits growth according to Horney?
➔ When parents act with real love & warmth, they create an atmosphere in which needs
can be satisfied & growth can take place.
◆ Genuine interest in the child, respect, warmth, reliability, etc.
➔ Parents irresponsibility & ‘neuroticising cultural influences’ (conflicting cultural values)
may prevent the fulfillment of needs.
What happens if need-fulfilment is hampered / prevented?
➔ Leads to basic hostility & basic anxiety:
◆ Basic hostility: Result of child’s conflicting experiences in interaction
with the environment → they are psychologically & physically
dependent on the environment but feel the environment is hostile (if
needs for warmth & love aren’t met). → the world is out to cheat, betray,
humiliate.
◆ Basic anxiety: Persuasive feeling of helplessness experienced when a
child is unable to cope with the environment. → Feeling lonely, helpless in
a hostile world.
➔ Factors in parent-child relationships that give rise to hostility & anxiety: indifference, lack
of respect, lack of guidance, unreliable warmth, having to take sides of parents in
arguments.
➔ Culture-specific factors: Western culture of the 20th century promotes neurosis (such as
the adherence to conflicting values).
How do people deal with basic hostility & anxiety?
● Both are repressed and unconscious.
● Initially believed to be manifested as neurotic needs → later linked to
reactions or relations to others, constituting a interpersonal style.
