Chapter 6
Horney: Psychoanalytic Social Theory

 

Learning Objectives

After reading Chapter 6, you should be able to:

1.    Compare and contrast the theories of Horney and Freud.

2.    Discuss Horney's concepts of basic hostility and basic anxiety.

3.    Identify and discuss Horney's three categories of neurotic needs.

4.    Describe Horney's three neurotic trends.

5.    Explain Horney's concept of intrapsychic conflicts.

6.    List the modes of expression for self-hatred.

7.    Discuss Horney's approach to feminine psychology.

8.    Describe recent research on psychoanalytic social theory.

9.    Evaluate psychoanalytic social theory against the criteria of a useful theory.

Summary Outline

I.       Overview of Horney's Psychoanalytic Social Theory
Karen Horney's psychoanalytic social theory, assumes that social and cultural conditions, especially during childhood, have a powerful effect on later personality.  Like Melanie Klein, Horney accepted many of Freud's observations, but she objected to most of his interpretations, including his notions on feminine psychology. 
II.      Biography of Karen Horney
Karen Horney, who was born in Germany in 1885, 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.
III.    Introduction to Horney's Psychoanalytic Social Theory
Although Horney's writings deal mostly with what she called neuroses and neurotic personalities, her theories are also appropriate to normal development.  She agreed with Freud that early childhood traumas are important, but she placed far more emphasis on social factors.
          A. Horney and Freud Compared
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.
          B. The Impact of Culture
Horney insisted that modern culture is too competitive and that competition leads to hostility and feelings of isolation.  These conditions lead to exaggerated needs for affection and cause people to overvalue love.
C. The Importance of Childhood Experiences
Neurotic conflict stems largely from childhood traumas, most of which are traced to a lack of genuine love.  Children who do not receive genuine affection feel threatened and adopt rigid behavioral patterns in an attempt to gain love.
IV.    Basic Hostility and Basic Anxiety
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 basic hostility, they will develop feelings of insecurity and a pervasive sense of apprehension called basic anxiety.  People can protect themselves from basic anxiety by (1) affection, (2) submissiveness, (3) power or prestige, 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.
V.      Compulsive Drives
Neurotic individuals are frequently trapped in a vicious circle in which their compulsive need to reduce basic anxiety leads to a variety of self-defeating behaviors; these behaviors then produce more basic anxiety, and the circle continues.
          A. Neurotic Needs
Horney identified 10 neurotic needs that mark neurotic people in their attempt to reduce basic anxiety.  These include (1) needs for affection and approval, (2) needs for a partner (3) needs to restrict one's life within narrow borders, (4) needs for power, (5) needs to exploit others, (6) needs for social recognition or prestige, (7) needs for personal admiration, (8) needs for ambition and personal achievement, (9) needs for self-sufficiency and independence, and (10) needs for perfection and unassailability.
          B. Neurotic Trends
Later, Horney grouped these 10 neurotic needs into three basic neurotic trends; (1) moving toward people, (2) moving against people, and (3) moving away from people. Each of these trends can apply to both normal and neurotic individuals in their attempt to solve basic conflict.  However, whereas neurotic people are compelled to follow only one neurotic trend, normal individuals are sufficiently flexible to adopt all three.  People who move neurotically toward others adopt a compliant attitude in order to protect themselves against feelings of helplessness;  people who move against others do so through aggressive behaviors that protect them against perceived hostility from others; and people who move away from others do so in a  detached manner that  protects them against feelings of isolation by appearing arrogant and aloof.
VI.    Intrapsychic Conflicts
People also experience inner tensions or intrapsychic conflicts that become part of their belief systems and take on lives of their own, separate from the interpersonal conflicts that created them.
          A. The Idealized Self-Image
People who do not receive love and affection during childhood are blocked in heir attempt to acquire a stable sense of identity.  Feeling alienated from self, they create an idealized self-image, or an extravagantly positive picture of themselves.  Horney recognized three aspects of the idealized self-image:(1) the neurotic search for glory, or a comprehensive drive toward actualizing the ideal self; (2) neurotic claims, or a belief that they are entitled to special privileges; and (3) neurotic pride, or a false pride based not on reality but on a distorted and idealized view of self.
          B. Self-Hatred
Neurotic individuals 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 self, (2) merciless self-accusation, (3) self-contempt, (4) self-frustration, (5) self-torment or self-torture, and (6) self-destructive actions and impulses.
VII.   Feminine Psychology
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 the child feels for the parent would be the result of learning and not biology.
VIII.  Psychotherapy
The goal of Horney's psychotherapy was to help patients grow toward self-realization, give up their idealized self-image, relinquish their neurotic search for glory, and change self-hatred to self-acceptance.  Horney believed that successful therapy is built on self-analysis and self-understanding.
IX.    Related Research
Most research on neuroticism highlights its negative side.  Neuroticism is associated with setting avoidance goals rather than approach goals (Elliot & Thrash, 2002).  Horney’s view (1942) was that neurotics compulsively protect themselves against anxiety, and this defensive strategy traps them in a negative cycle.  While the negative view of neuroticism is understandable, recent researchers have begun looking at some benefits of neuroticism.  A study by Michael Robinson and colleagues asked how one could be a “successful neurotic” (Robinson, Ode, Wilkowski, & Amodio, 2007).  They found that for those predisposed toward neuroticism, the ability to react adaptively to errors while assessing threat was related to less negative mood in daily life.  The conclusion was that many neurotic people, while they cannot change their personalities and stop being neurotic, often develop great skill at avoiding negative outcomes, and that their successful avoidance of these outcomes improves their mood, making them feel better on a daily basis.
X.  Critique of Horney
Although Horney painted a vivid portrait of the neurotic personality, her theory rates very low in generating research, low on its ability to be falsified, to organize data, and to serve as a useful guide to action.  Her theory is rated about average on internal consistency and parsimony.
XI.    Concept of Humanity
Horney's concept of humanity is rated very high on social factors, high on free choice, optimism, and unconscious influences, and about average on causality versus teleology and on the uniqueness of the individual.

Test Items

Fill-in-the-Blanks

1.     Horney believed that _______________________ factors, not anatomy, were responsible for psychic differences between men and women.

2.     Horney's writings are concerned mostly with _________________ individuals.

3.     By training, Horney was a __________________ at a time when few women in Germany were trained in this profession.

4.     Horney believed that modern culture overvalues ___________________ and undervalues cooperation.

5.     Horney questioned Freud's ____________________ of his observations rather than the observations themselves.

6      Horney believed that basic hostility and basic __________________ underlie all neurotic drives.

7.     People protect themselves against _______________________ through affection, submission, power, or withdrawal.

8.     Horney's three neurotic ________________ include moving toward, against, and away from people.

9.     Neurotic behavior is more _____________________ than normal behavior, and this is a primary distinction between normals and neurotics.

10.   Neurotic trends are used to solve basic ___________________, which originates in childhood when children are driven toward, against, and away from people.

11.  The outstanding characteristic of people who adopt the strategy of moving toward other people is ______________________ .

12. _____________________ people protect themselves against the hostility of others by moving against people.

13.  Neurotics try to solve the basic conflict of __________________ by moving away from people in a detached manner.    

14.  The idealized _____________________ is an attempt to solve conflicts by portraying a godlike picture of oneself.

15.  According to Horney, the drive to make the whole personality into the idealized self is called the need for _________________________ .

16.  Self-contempt and self-torment are two modes of ___________________.

True-False

_____   1. According to Horney, psychologically healthy people have a strong drive to please other people.

_____2. When depressed, psychologically healthy people seek an emotionally strong person to tell their troubles.

_____3. Because Horney wrote mainly about neurotic personalities, her theory is not relevant to healthy personality development.

_____4. Horney's theory is basically pessimistic in its outlook.

_____5. Horney believed that people are governed by two great drives:  sex and aggression.

_____6. Psychologically mature individuals enjoy seeing the achievements of their friends.

_____7. Horney said that people with a strong need for affection have overvalued love.

_____8. Modern society, Horney said, is based on competition among people.

____9.  Horney believed that neurotic people enjoy their misery and suffering.

____10. Neither the compliant person nor the aggressive person needs other people.

____11. Horney believed in the concept of a universal Oedipus complex.

____12. The need for affection and approval are two of Horney's 10 neurotic needs.

____13. Because they have deep feelings of inferiority, many neurotic individuals move toward other people.

____14. The normal analog to the neurotic trend of moving toward people is survival in a competitive society.

____15. Both Freudian and Horneyian therapists use the techniques of dream interpretation and free association.

____16. Horney's theory has generated a great amount of research.

____17. Horney's theory avoids the problem of falsifiability that plagues the theories of Freud and Jung.

 

Multiple Choice

______1. Which of these statements most accurately reflects one of Horney's neurotic needs?
a.  "I need an emotionally strong person to tell my troubles."
b.  "it's okay with me if someone else is the life of the party."
c.  "I feel comfortable whenever I'm in an emotionally close relationship."
d.  "It's easy for me to accept my own mistakes and personal flaws."

_____ 2. Horney believed that most neuroses are the result of
a.  unhealthy interpersonal relations.
b.  an unresolved Oedipus complex.
c.  unwise parenting.
d.  underdeveloped ego strength.

_____3.  The life of Horney has several parallels to that of _____; for example, both were the youngest children of older fathers, and both had older siblings who were favored by the parents.
a.  Carl Jung
b.  Alfred Adler
c.  Margaret Mahler
d.  Melanie Klein

______4. Horney's early professional writings were strongly influenced by
a.  Freud.
b.  Adler.
c.  Jung.
d.  Sullivan.

_____ 5. Horney criticized psychoanalysis for its
a.  concept of feminine psychology.
b.  overemphasis on clinical research.
c.  underemphasis on clinical research.
d.  concept of the three levels of mental life.

_____6.  Horney believed that cultural conditions are largely responsible for the development of
a.  basic trust.
b.  basic mistrust.
c.  basic anxiety.
d.  basic psychoses.

______7. According to Horney, people are ruled by safety and
a.  sex.
b.  fear.
c.  satisfaction.
d.  anxiety.

______8. Horney believed that a competitive and hostile society encourages
a.  hatred.
b.  love.
c.  isolation.
d.  superiority and success.

_____9.  Horney believed that people overvalue love as a means of satisfying the need for _____.
a.  self-esteem
b.  competence
c.  superiority
d.  affection

______10.  According to Horney, most neurotic individuals
a.  are no longer motivated to find love.
b.  seek love in a self-defeating fashion.
c.  experience decreases in hostility.
d.  develop enhanced self-esteem through their search for love.

____11.  Horney defined basic anxiety as a feeling of being
a.  separated from the mothering one.
b.  isolated and helpless in a potentially hostile world.
c.  threatened by one's enemies.
d.  incompetent in a world where others appear to be competent.

____12.  Horney believed that modern society is too
a.  liberal.
b.  conservative.
c.  dangerous.
d.  competitive.

____13.  According to Horney, neurotic behavior is a protection against
a.  feelings of inferiority.
b.  basic anxiety.
c.  public disgrace.
d.  exaggerated guilt.

____14   Which of these is NOT one of Horney's three neurotic trends?
a.  moving against people
b.  moving away from people
c.  moving with people
d.  moving toward people

____15.  Children who feel isolated from others are likely to develop the neurotic trend of moving
a.  away from others.
b.  with others.
c.  against others.
d.  toward others.

____16.  The compliant person is most likely to adopt the neurotic trend of
a.  moving toward people.
b.  moving with people.
c.  moving against people.
d.  moving away from people.

____17.  Each neurotic trend has a normal, healthy analog.  A friendly, loving person has successfully solved the trend of moving
a.  against others.
b.  toward others.
c.  with others.
d.  away from others.

____18.  Horney regarded the idealized self-image and self-hatred as
a.  interpersonal conflicts.
b.  psychosexual conflicts.
c.  psychosocial conflicts.
d.  intrapsychic conflicts.
e.  principal ingredients in the syndrome of decay.

____19.  Contrary to Freud, Horney held that the Oedipus complex is
a.  universal.
b.  found only in males.
c.  found only in females.
d.  the result of anatomy.
e.  the result of cultural factors.

____20.  The ultimate goal of Horneyian therapy is
a.  the elimination of basic anxiety.
b.  the solution of basic conflicts.
c.  the recovery of unconscious instincts.
d.  growth toward self-realization.
e.  the solution of day-to-day problems.

____21.  Ashley feels alienated from her femininity and wishes that she were a man.  Horney would say that Ashley's desires originate from
a.  her experiences with cultural privileges for men.
b.  penis envy.
c.  oedipal strivings.
d.  lack of a close relationship with her mother.

 

Short Answer

1.  List three of Horney's criticisms of Freudian theory.

 

 

 

 

2.  Name four protective mechanisms that people use to defend themselves against basic hostility and basic anxiety.

 

 

 

 

3.  List Horney's 10 neurotic needs.

 

 

 

 

4.  List and discuss Horney's three neurotic trends.

 

 

 

5.  List six major ways in which self-hatred is expressed.

 

 

 

 

6.  Discuss Horney's concept of feminine psychology, including her view of the Oedipus complex.

 

 

 

 

Answers

Fill-in-the-Blanks             True-False        Multiple Choice 

1.    cultural (social) factors             1.     F                 1.        a
2.    neurotic                                   2.     F                 2.        a
3.    physician                                 3.     F                 3.        d
4.    competition                              4.     F                 4.        a
5.    interpretations                          5.     F                 5.        a
6.    basic anxiety                            6.     F                 6.        c
7.    basic anxiety                            7.     T                 7.        c
8.    trends                                      8.     T                 8.        c
9.    compulsive                              9.     F                 9.        d
10.  conflict                                    10.   F                 10.      b
11.  compliance                              11.   F                 11.      b
12.  Aggressive                               12.   T                 12.      d
13.  isolation                                   13.   T                 13.      b
14.  self-image                                14.   F                 14.      c
15.  perfection                                15.   T                 15.      a
16.  self-hatred                               16.   F                 16.      a
17.   F                 17.      b
18       d
19.      e
20.      d
21.      a