Page 1
Exam 2: Personality of Psychology
Questions and Correct Answers
Discuss Horney's concepts of basic hostility and basic
anxiety.
Ans: Hostility is created when parents don't satisfy
children's needs for safety and satisfaction, anxiety is
created when they have hostility but repress it so they
don't feel bad.
All children need feelings of safety and security, but
these can be gained only by love from parents.
Unfortunately, parents often neglect, dominate, reject,
or overindulge their children, conditions that lead to
the child's feelings of basic hostility toward parents. If
children repress feelings of basic hostility, they will
develop feelings of insecurity and a pervasive sense of
apprehension called basic anxiety.
Karen Horney's Biography
,Page 2
Ans: Karen Horney, who was born in Eilbek (Hamburg,
Germany) in September 15th, 1885. She was the only
daughter of Berndt Danielson and Clothida van
Ronzelem Danielsen (18 years younger than dad). She
had one older brother (4 years older) and four half
brothers from dad's previous marriage. She was hostile
towards dad for being religious hypocrite, but loved
mom. She was one of the first women in that country
admitted to medical school. There, she became
acquainted with Freudian theory and eventually
became a psychoanalyst and a psychiatrist. In her mid-
40s, Horney left Germany to settle in the United
States, first in Chicago and then in New York. She soon
abandoned orthodox psychoanalysis in favor of a more
socially oriented theory-one that had a more positive
view of feminine development. She died in 1952 at age
67.
Basic Anxiety
,Page 3
Ans: It is created when children have hostility but
repress it so they don't feel badly - a feeling of being
small, insignificant, helpless, deserted. If children
repress feelings of basic hostility, they will develop
feelings of insecurity and a pervasive sense of
apprehension called basic anxiety.
Basic Hostility
Ans: It is created when parents do not satisfy
children's needs for safety and satisfaction
People can protect themselves from basic anxiety through a
number of protective devices. What defense strategies does
basic anxiety deal with?
, Page 4
Ans: (1) affection, (2) submissiveness, (3) power,
prestige, or possession, and (4) withdrawal. Normal
people have the flexibility to use any or all of these
approaches, but neurotics are compelled to rely rigidly
on only one.
What was Horney's theory overview?
Ans: Horney's work was very relational - how we relate
to others influences our personality development (and
further relations). Society is relatively evil in her theory
- it demands success and achievement that are
impossible to achieve, making us feel unworthy.
Difficulties in childhood are responsible for neurotic
(anxious) behaviors. Her theory assumes that social
and cultural conditions, especially during childhood,
have a powerful effect on later personality.
List and discuss Horney's categories of neurotic needs.
Exam 2: Personality of Psychology
Questions and Correct Answers
Discuss Horney's concepts of basic hostility and basic
anxiety.
Ans: Hostility is created when parents don't satisfy
children's needs for safety and satisfaction, anxiety is
created when they have hostility but repress it so they
don't feel bad.
All children need feelings of safety and security, but
these can be gained only by love from parents.
Unfortunately, parents often neglect, dominate, reject,
or overindulge their children, conditions that lead to
the child's feelings of basic hostility toward parents. If
children repress feelings of basic hostility, they will
develop feelings of insecurity and a pervasive sense of
apprehension called basic anxiety.
Karen Horney's Biography
,Page 2
Ans: Karen Horney, who was born in Eilbek (Hamburg,
Germany) in September 15th, 1885. She was the only
daughter of Berndt Danielson and Clothida van
Ronzelem Danielsen (18 years younger than dad). She
had one older brother (4 years older) and four half
brothers from dad's previous marriage. She was hostile
towards dad for being religious hypocrite, but loved
mom. She was one of the first women in that country
admitted to medical school. There, she became
acquainted with Freudian theory and eventually
became a psychoanalyst and a psychiatrist. In her mid-
40s, Horney left Germany to settle in the United
States, first in Chicago and then in New York. She soon
abandoned orthodox psychoanalysis in favor of a more
socially oriented theory-one that had a more positive
view of feminine development. She died in 1952 at age
67.
Basic Anxiety
,Page 3
Ans: It is created when children have hostility but
repress it so they don't feel badly - a feeling of being
small, insignificant, helpless, deserted. If children
repress feelings of basic hostility, they will develop
feelings of insecurity and a pervasive sense of
apprehension called basic anxiety.
Basic Hostility
Ans: It is created when parents do not satisfy
children's needs for safety and satisfaction
People can protect themselves from basic anxiety through a
number of protective devices. What defense strategies does
basic anxiety deal with?
, Page 4
Ans: (1) affection, (2) submissiveness, (3) power,
prestige, or possession, and (4) withdrawal. Normal
people have the flexibility to use any or all of these
approaches, but neurotics are compelled to rely rigidly
on only one.
What was Horney's theory overview?
Ans: Horney's work was very relational - how we relate
to others influences our personality development (and
further relations). Society is relatively evil in her theory
- it demands success and achievement that are
impossible to achieve, making us feel unworthy.
Difficulties in childhood are responsible for neurotic
(anxious) behaviors. Her theory assumes that social
and cultural conditions, especially during childhood,
have a powerful effect on later personality.
List and discuss Horney's categories of neurotic needs.
