PSYCHOLOGY 213:
Exam notes
, CHAPTER 6 (Horney and Fromm)- Checklist
A) Karen Horney
1) Brief background
2) Structure of the personality
Self (3)
3) Dynamic of the personality
a) Interpersonal styles
(i) Movement towards others
(ii) Movement against others
(iii) Movement away from others
4) Development of personality
B) Erich Fromm
1) Brief background
Dichotomies (2)
2) Structure of the personality
Basic human processes (2+4)
Inherent components of personality (2)
3) Dynamics of the personality
a) Human needs
(i) Relatedness
Constructive v destructive
(ii) Transcendence
Creation v Destruction (2)
(iii) Rootedness
(iv) Personal identity
(v) Frame of reference (3)
b) Needs and character
4) Development of personality
General
Character development (2)
Types of relationship (3)
Interpersonal styles (2)
, CHAPTER 6: Socially-orientated psychoanalytical theories
A) Karen Horney
1) Brief background:
• Schooled in Berlin and later immigrated to America
• 1885-1952
• Realised that biological determinism and emphasis on sexuality (Freud) wasn’t
relevant to Americans
• Socially-oriented psychoanalysis: pays attention to social dimensions of human
existence
o E.g. social and cultural factors
• Conflict arises from environment rather than opposing forces in the personality
o E.g. People in hostile environment different to those who in safe
environments
o Family and broader culture
• Consciousness is manifested from the concept of a self
• Individuals can strengthen the self and not be overwhelmed by society’s demand for
conformity
• View is based on fact that people can grow and realise their full potential (strive for
self-realisation)
o Optimistic view of humanity
• Believes people can consciously change and shape own personality
• Believes neurotic people need to be set free from their limitations that block their
growth
2) Structure of the personality:
• Psychodynamics of personality (esp neurotic personalities) more NB than structure and
development
• Accepts Freud’s importance of unconsciousness and repression but not as most NB part
of human functioning
• Idealised self:
o Product of feelings of inferiority
▪ Seen in society that places value on competition/prestige
o Dealing with inferiority = anxiety
o To compensate for inferiority- person creates an ideal self
▪ Which is omnipotent and has unlimited potential
• Actual self:
o People as they consciously act in daily life
o Often rejected (wants the ideal self)
• Real self:
o Fundamental for both ideal/actual self
o Force that urges individual in the direction of growth/self-fulfilment
, 3) The dynamic of the personality:
• Personality = geared toward development and constructive growth
• Growth principle: All energy is naturally channelled in such a way to ensure that the
individual will develop is/her unique potential, unless it becomes blocked by some
“anti-natural” influence
o E.g. family, society
o Replaces Freud’s id
• Basic needs:
o Security (free from anxiety/threat)
o Satisfaction (basic physiological needs)
• Child= dependent on family/environment to fulfil basic needs
o Could lead to neurosis / inferiority
• Personal growth:
o Parents act with real love/warmth = facilitates growth
o Parents act with irresponsibility and “neurotising cultural influences” = basic
hostility and basic anxiety
• Need fulfilment prevented:
o Basic hostility: Result form conflictual experience / hostile environments
▪ Results in hostility when child feels small/insignificant/helpless
o Basic anxiety: Feeling of helplessness children feel when unable to cope with
their environment
Both are repressed and unconscious; manifest in neurotic needs
a) Interpersonal styles:
(i) Movement towards others
Healthy development = move towards people in cooperative /affectionate
way
Excessive= individuals who were brought up in someone’s shadow
E.g. Parent demanding devotion from favourite child
Classification: Submissive/complacent type
Will do anything to win back positive regards
(ii) Movement against others
Healthy development= move against others is assertiveness and ability to
argue with people
Excessive= Do not accept separateness and takes it as hostility; obsessed
with power, prestige and personal achievement
Classification: Hostile/aggressive type
Three types:
Narcissist type (great self-confidence)
Perfectionist type (believe their abilities are superior to
others/blame mistakes on others)
Arrogant type (highly competitive)
(iii) Movement away from others
Move away to avoid dependence on others but no wish to be hostile
Caused when demands of environment are too great
Feel threatened / “cut out”
Classification: Detached/aloof type
Exam notes
, CHAPTER 6 (Horney and Fromm)- Checklist
A) Karen Horney
1) Brief background
2) Structure of the personality
Self (3)
3) Dynamic of the personality
a) Interpersonal styles
(i) Movement towards others
(ii) Movement against others
(iii) Movement away from others
4) Development of personality
B) Erich Fromm
1) Brief background
Dichotomies (2)
2) Structure of the personality
Basic human processes (2+4)
Inherent components of personality (2)
3) Dynamics of the personality
a) Human needs
(i) Relatedness
Constructive v destructive
(ii) Transcendence
Creation v Destruction (2)
(iii) Rootedness
(iv) Personal identity
(v) Frame of reference (3)
b) Needs and character
4) Development of personality
General
Character development (2)
Types of relationship (3)
Interpersonal styles (2)
, CHAPTER 6: Socially-orientated psychoanalytical theories
A) Karen Horney
1) Brief background:
• Schooled in Berlin and later immigrated to America
• 1885-1952
• Realised that biological determinism and emphasis on sexuality (Freud) wasn’t
relevant to Americans
• Socially-oriented psychoanalysis: pays attention to social dimensions of human
existence
o E.g. social and cultural factors
• Conflict arises from environment rather than opposing forces in the personality
o E.g. People in hostile environment different to those who in safe
environments
o Family and broader culture
• Consciousness is manifested from the concept of a self
• Individuals can strengthen the self and not be overwhelmed by society’s demand for
conformity
• View is based on fact that people can grow and realise their full potential (strive for
self-realisation)
o Optimistic view of humanity
• Believes people can consciously change and shape own personality
• Believes neurotic people need to be set free from their limitations that block their
growth
2) Structure of the personality:
• Psychodynamics of personality (esp neurotic personalities) more NB than structure and
development
• Accepts Freud’s importance of unconsciousness and repression but not as most NB part
of human functioning
• Idealised self:
o Product of feelings of inferiority
▪ Seen in society that places value on competition/prestige
o Dealing with inferiority = anxiety
o To compensate for inferiority- person creates an ideal self
▪ Which is omnipotent and has unlimited potential
• Actual self:
o People as they consciously act in daily life
o Often rejected (wants the ideal self)
• Real self:
o Fundamental for both ideal/actual self
o Force that urges individual in the direction of growth/self-fulfilment
, 3) The dynamic of the personality:
• Personality = geared toward development and constructive growth
• Growth principle: All energy is naturally channelled in such a way to ensure that the
individual will develop is/her unique potential, unless it becomes blocked by some
“anti-natural” influence
o E.g. family, society
o Replaces Freud’s id
• Basic needs:
o Security (free from anxiety/threat)
o Satisfaction (basic physiological needs)
• Child= dependent on family/environment to fulfil basic needs
o Could lead to neurosis / inferiority
• Personal growth:
o Parents act with real love/warmth = facilitates growth
o Parents act with irresponsibility and “neurotising cultural influences” = basic
hostility and basic anxiety
• Need fulfilment prevented:
o Basic hostility: Result form conflictual experience / hostile environments
▪ Results in hostility when child feels small/insignificant/helpless
o Basic anxiety: Feeling of helplessness children feel when unable to cope with
their environment
Both are repressed and unconscious; manifest in neurotic needs
a) Interpersonal styles:
(i) Movement towards others
Healthy development = move towards people in cooperative /affectionate
way
Excessive= individuals who were brought up in someone’s shadow
E.g. Parent demanding devotion from favourite child
Classification: Submissive/complacent type
Will do anything to win back positive regards
(ii) Movement against others
Healthy development= move against others is assertiveness and ability to
argue with people
Excessive= Do not accept separateness and takes it as hostility; obsessed
with power, prestige and personal achievement
Classification: Hostile/aggressive type
Three types:
Narcissist type (great self-confidence)
Perfectionist type (believe their abilities are superior to
others/blame mistakes on others)
Arrogant type (highly competitive)
(iii) Movement away from others
Move away to avoid dependence on others but no wish to be hostile
Caused when demands of environment are too great
Feel threatened / “cut out”
Classification: Detached/aloof type
