fei75766_ch06_179-205.indd 180  02/06/20 11:32 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories180
Please Mark These “True” or “False” as They Apply to You.
 1.  T F   It’s very important to me to please other people.
 2.  T F   When I feel distressed, I seek out an emotionally strong 
person to tell my troubles to.
 3.  T F   I prefer routine more than change.
 4.  T F   I enjoy being in a powerful leadership position.
 5.  T F   I believe in and follow the advice: “Do unto others before they 
can do unto me.”
 6.  T F   I enjoy being the life of the party.
 7.  T F   It’s very important to me to be recognized for my 
accomplishments.
 8.  T F   I enjoy seeing the achievements of my friends.
 9.  T F   I usually end relationships when they begin to get too close.
 10.  T F   It’s very difficult for me to overlook my own mistakes and 
personal flaws.
These questions represent 10 important needs proposed by Karen 
 Horney. We discuss these items in the section on neurotic needs. Please 
know that marking an item in the direction of neurotic needs does not  indicate 
that you are emotionally unstable or driven by neurotic needs.
Overview of Psychoanalytic  
Social Theory
Thepsychoanalytic social theory ofKaren Horney (pronounced Horn-eye) wasbuilt
ontheassumption thatsocial andcultural conditions, especially childhood experi -
ences, arelargely responsible forshaping personality. People whodonothavetheir
needs forloveandaffection satisfied during childhood develop basic hostility toward 
theirparents and,asaconsequence, suffer from basic anxiety .Horney theorized that
people combat basic anxiety byadopting oneofthree fundamental styles ofrelating 
toothers: (1)moving toward people, (2)moving against people, or(3)moving away 
from people. Normal individuals mayuseanyofthese modes ofrelating toother 
people, butneurotics arecompelled torigidly relyononlyone.Their compulsive 
behavior generates abasic intrapsychic conflict thatmaytaketheform ofeither anide-
alized self-image orself-hatred. Theidealized self-image isexpressed as(1)neurotic 
search forglory, (2)neurotic claims, or(3)neurotic pride. Self-hatred isexpressed as
either self-contempt oralienation from self.
Although Horney’s writings areconcerned mostly withtheneurotic personal -
ity,many ofherideas canalsobeapplied tonormal individuals. Thischapter looks 
atHorney’s basic theory ofneurosis, compares herideas tothose ofFreud, examines 
herviews onfeminine psychology, andbriefly discusses herideas onpsychotherapy.
Aswithother personality theorists, Horney’s views onpersonality areareflec -
tionofherlifeexperiences. Bernard Paris (1994) wrote that“Horney’s insights were
derived from herefforts torelieve herownpain, aswellasthatofherpatients. IfherFinal PDF to printer