fei75766_ch06_179-205.indd 190  02/06/20 11:32 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories190
Moving toward others andmoving against others are,inmany ways, polar 
opposites. Thecompliant person iscompelled toreceive affection from everyone, 
whereas theaggressive person seeseveryone asapotential enemy. Forbothtypes, 
however, “thecenter ofgravity liesoutside theperson” (Horney, 1945, p.65).Both 
need other people. Compliant people need others tosatisfy theirfeelings ofhelpless -
ness; aggressive people useothers asaprotection against realorimagined hostility. 
With thethird neurotic trend, incontrast, other people areoflesser importance.
Moving Away from People
Inorder tosolve thebasic conflict ofisolation, some people behave inadetached man-
nerandadopt aneurotic trend ofmoving away from people. Thisstrategy isanexpres -
sionofneeds forprivacy, independence, andself-sufficiency. Again, eachofthese needs 
canleadtopositive behaviors, withsome people satisfying these needs inahealthy 
fashion. However, these needs become neurotic when people trytosatisfy them by
compulsively putting emotional distance between themselves andother people.
Many neurotics findassociating withothers anintolerable strain. Asaconse -
quence, theyarecompulsively driven tomove away from people, toattain autonomy 
andseparateness. They frequently build aworld oftheirownandrefuse toallow any-
onetogetclose tothem. They value freedom andself-sufficiency andoften appear tobe
aloof andunapproachable. Ifmarried, theymaintain theirdetachment evenfrom their
spouse. They shun social commitments, buttheirgreatest fearistoneedother people.
Allneurotics possess aneed tofeelsuperior, butdetached persons havean
intensified need tobestrong andpowerful. Their basic feelings ofisolation canbetol-
erated onlybytheself-deceptive belief thattheyareperfect andtherefore beyond criti-
cism. They dread competition, fearing ablow totheirillusory feelings ofsuperiority. 
Moving away from people isaneurotic trend thatmany people useinanattempt tosolve thebasic 
conflict ofisolation. Stock4B/Image SourceFinal PDF to printer