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Part II    Psychodynamic Theories182
Therapy” (Horney, 1917/1968), which reflected theorthodox Freudian viewand
gavelittleindication ofHorney’s subsequent independent thinking.
Theearly years ofhermarriage werefilled withmany notable personal experi -
ences forHorney. Herfather andmother, whowerenowseparated, diedwithin less
thanayearofeachother; shegavebirth tothree daughters in5years; shereceived 
herMDdegree in1915 after5years ofpsychoanalysis; and,inherquest fortheright
man, shehadseveral loveaffairs (Paris, 1994; Quinn, 1987).
After World WarI,theHorneys lived aprosperous, suburban lifestyle with
several servants andachauffeur. Oskar didwellfinancially while Karen enjoyed a
thriving psychiatric practice. Thisidyllic scene, however, soon ended. Theinflation 
andeconomic disorder of1923 costOskar hisjob,andthefamily wasforced tomove 
backtoanapartment inBerlin. In1926, Karen andOskar separated butdidnotoffi-
cially divorce until1938 (Paris, 1994).
Theearly years following herseparation from Oskar werethemost productive 
ofHorney’s life.Inaddition toseeing patients andcaring forherthree daughters, she
became more involved withwriting, teaching, traveling, andlecturing. Herpapers 
nowshowed important differences withFreudian theory. Shebelieved thatculture, 
notanatomy, wasresponsible forpsychic differences between menandwomen. 
When Freud reacted negatively toHorney’s position, shebecame evenmore outspo -
keninheropposition.
In1932, Horney leftGermany fortheposition ofanassociate director inthe
newly established Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute. Several factors contributed toher
decision toimmigrate—the anti-Jewish political climate inGermany (although Hor-
neywasnotJewish), increasing opposition toherunorthodox views, andanopportu -
nitytoextend herinfluence beyond Berlin. During the2years shespent inChicago, 
shemetMargaret Mead andJohn Dollard. Inaddition, sherenewed acquaintances 
withErich Fromm andhiswife,Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, whom shehadknown 
inBerlin. During thenext10years, Horney andFromm wereclose friends, greatly 
influencing eachother andeventually becoming lovers (Hornstein, 2000).
After 2years inChicago, Horney moved toNewYork, where shetaught at
theNewSchool forSocial Research. While inNewYork, shebecame amember of
theZodiac group thatincluded Fromm, Fromm-Reichmann, andothers. Although 
Horney wasamember oftheNewYork Psychoanalytic Institute, sheseldom agreed 
withtheestablished members. Moreover, herbook New Ways in Psychoanalysis (1939) 
made hertheleader ofanopposition group. Inthisbook, Horney called forabandon -
ingtheinstinct theory andplacing more emphasis onegoandsocial influences. In
1941, sheresigned from theinstitute overissues ofdogma andorthodoxy andhelped 
form arivalorganization—the Association fortheAdvancement ofPsychoanalysis 
(AAP). Thisnewgroup, however, alsoquickly suffered from internal strife. In1943, 
Fromm (whose intimate relationship withHorney hadrecently ended) andseveral oth-
ersresigned from theAAP, leaving thatorganization without itsstrongest members. 
Despite thisrift,theassociation continued, butunder anewname—the Karen Horney 
Psychoanalytic Institute. In1952, Horney established theKaren Horney Clinic.
In1950, Horney published hermost important work, Neurosis and Human 
Growth. Thisbook setsforth theories thatwerenolonger merely areaction toFreud 
butrather wereanexpression ofherowncreative andindependent thinking. After a
short illness, Horney diedofcancer onDecember 4,1952. Shewas65years old.Final PDF to printer