Exam 2: Personality of Psychology
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Discuss Horney's concepts of basic hostility and basic anxiety. - CORRECT ANSWER -
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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? - CORRECT ANSWER - (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? - CORRECT ANSWER - 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. - CORRECT ANSWER - Horney
identified 10 categories of neurotic needs that mark neurotics in their attempt to reduce basic
anxiety. These include needs (1) for affection and approval, (2) for a powerful partner (3) to
restrict one's life within narrow borders, (4) for power, (5) to exploit others, (6) for social
recognition or prestige, (7) for personal admiration, (8) for ambition and personal achievement,
(9) for self-sufficiency and independence, and (10) for perfection and unassailability.
Neurotic needs stem from childhood experiences and may become part of the personality.
Investigate the neurotic needs and see which, if any, dominate your personality
Describe Horney's three neurotic trends. - CORRECT ANSWER - The three neurotic tends
are (1) moving toward people, in which compliant people protect themselves against feelings of
helplessness by attaching themselves to other people (helplessness); (2) moving against people,
in which aggressive people protect themselves against perceived hostility of others by exploiting
others (hostile); and (3) moving away from people, in which detached people protect themselves
against feelings of isolation by appearing arrogant and aloof (isolation).
Idealized self-image - CORRECT ANSWER - solve conflicts by creating an idealized
image of self
Neurotic search for glory - CORRECT ANSWER - the need for perfection, neurotic
ambition, drive toward vindictive triumph
Tyranny of the should - CORRECT ANSWER - trying to achieve perfection by erecting a
complex set of "shoulds" and "should nots"
, Neurotic claims - CORRECT ANSWER - build a fantasty world and claim they are
special/entitled to be treated well
Neurotic pride - CORRECT ANSWER - false pride, not based on reality (based on
idealized self-image); loudly proclaimed in order to protect personal image
Discuss the modes of expression of self hatred. - CORRECT ANSWER - Neurotics dislike
themselves because reality always falls short of their idealized view of self. Therefore, they learn
self-hatred, which can be expressed as: (1) relentless demands on the self, (2) merciless self-
accusation, (3) self-contempt, (4) self-frustration, (5) self-torment or self-torture, and (6) self-
destructive actions
and impulses.
Discuss Horney's concepts of feminine psychology. - CORRECT ANSWER - Horney
believed that psychological differences between men and women are not due to anatomy but to
culture and social expectations. Her view of the Oedipus complex differed markedly from
Freud's in that she insisted that any sexual attraction or hostility of child to parent would be the
result of learning and not biology.
Difference between Freud and Horney? - CORRECT ANSWER - She believed that strict
adherence to psychoanalysis would lead to stagnation in theory and practice. Objected to Freud's
beliefs about women's psyche. Psychoanalysis should move beyond instinct theory and
emphasize the importance of cultural influences in shaping personality. Cannot overemphasize
the importance of culture. Horney criticized Freudian theory on at least three accounts: (1) its
rigidity toward new ideas, (2) its skewed view of feminine psychology, and (3) its overemphasis
on biology and the pleasure principle.
What are some critiques of her theory? - CORRECT ANSWER - There is generally a lack
of research on how this applies to normal personalities. Not really sure what the term self-
realization actually means.
Her theory fall short on its ability to generate research and to submit its terms to falsifiability
(few testable hypotheses). Her theory, however, in terms of neurotics is well organized, but not
so with normal people. Her guide to action of practitioners is better but there are few details on
exactly what to do with patients. Her theory has low internal consistency and uses terms and
concepts in different ways. While her writing is very clear her use of simple terms in her work
gives her a high mark. Her theory of humanity is deterministic while the individual, to some
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Discuss Horney's concepts of basic hostility and basic anxiety. - CORRECT ANSWER -
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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? - CORRECT ANSWER - (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? - CORRECT ANSWER - 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. - CORRECT ANSWER - Horney
identified 10 categories of neurotic needs that mark neurotics in their attempt to reduce basic
anxiety. These include needs (1) for affection and approval, (2) for a powerful partner (3) to
restrict one's life within narrow borders, (4) for power, (5) to exploit others, (6) for social
recognition or prestige, (7) for personal admiration, (8) for ambition and personal achievement,
(9) for self-sufficiency and independence, and (10) for perfection and unassailability.
Neurotic needs stem from childhood experiences and may become part of the personality.
Investigate the neurotic needs and see which, if any, dominate your personality
Describe Horney's three neurotic trends. - CORRECT ANSWER - The three neurotic tends
are (1) moving toward people, in which compliant people protect themselves against feelings of
helplessness by attaching themselves to other people (helplessness); (2) moving against people,
in which aggressive people protect themselves against perceived hostility of others by exploiting
others (hostile); and (3) moving away from people, in which detached people protect themselves
against feelings of isolation by appearing arrogant and aloof (isolation).
Idealized self-image - CORRECT ANSWER - solve conflicts by creating an idealized
image of self
Neurotic search for glory - CORRECT ANSWER - the need for perfection, neurotic
ambition, drive toward vindictive triumph
Tyranny of the should - CORRECT ANSWER - trying to achieve perfection by erecting a
complex set of "shoulds" and "should nots"
, Neurotic claims - CORRECT ANSWER - build a fantasty world and claim they are
special/entitled to be treated well
Neurotic pride - CORRECT ANSWER - false pride, not based on reality (based on
idealized self-image); loudly proclaimed in order to protect personal image
Discuss the modes of expression of self hatred. - CORRECT ANSWER - Neurotics dislike
themselves because reality always falls short of their idealized view of self. Therefore, they learn
self-hatred, which can be expressed as: (1) relentless demands on the self, (2) merciless self-
accusation, (3) self-contempt, (4) self-frustration, (5) self-torment or self-torture, and (6) self-
destructive actions
and impulses.
Discuss Horney's concepts of feminine psychology. - CORRECT ANSWER - Horney
believed that psychological differences between men and women are not due to anatomy but to
culture and social expectations. Her view of the Oedipus complex differed markedly from
Freud's in that she insisted that any sexual attraction or hostility of child to parent would be the
result of learning and not biology.
Difference between Freud and Horney? - CORRECT ANSWER - She believed that strict
adherence to psychoanalysis would lead to stagnation in theory and practice. Objected to Freud's
beliefs about women's psyche. Psychoanalysis should move beyond instinct theory and
emphasize the importance of cultural influences in shaping personality. Cannot overemphasize
the importance of culture. Horney criticized Freudian theory on at least three accounts: (1) its
rigidity toward new ideas, (2) its skewed view of feminine psychology, and (3) its overemphasis
on biology and the pleasure principle.
What are some critiques of her theory? - CORRECT ANSWER - There is generally a lack
of research on how this applies to normal personalities. Not really sure what the term self-
realization actually means.
Her theory fall short on its ability to generate research and to submit its terms to falsifiability
(few testable hypotheses). Her theory, however, in terms of neurotics is well organized, but not
so with normal people. Her guide to action of practitioners is better but there are few details on
exactly what to do with patients. Her theory has low internal consistency and uses terms and
concepts in different ways. While her writing is very clear her use of simple terms in her work
gives her a high mark. Her theory of humanity is deterministic while the individual, to some
