fei75766_ch06_179-205.indd 194  02/06/20 11:32 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories194
areentitled tobenearthe
front oftheline,andthey
feelnoguiltorremorse in
moving ahead ofothers.
Neurotic Pride
Thethird aspect ofan
idealized image isneu-
rotic pride, afalsepride 
based notonarealistic 
viewofthetrueselfbut
onaspurious image 
oftheidealized self.
Neurotic pride isquali -
tatively different from 
healthy pride orrealis -
ticself-esteem. Genuine 
self-esteem isbased on
realistic attributes and
accomplishments andis
generally expressed with
quiet dignity. Neurotic pride, ontheother hand, isbased onanidealized image of
selfandisusually loudly proclaimed inorder toprotect andsupport aglorified view
ofone’s self(Horney, 1950).
Neurotics imagine themselves tobeglorious, wonderful, andperfect, sowhen 
others failtotreatthem withspecial consideration, theirneurotic pride ishurt. To
prevent thehurt, theyavoid people whorefuse toyield totheirneurotic claims, and
instead, theytrytobecome associated withsocially prominent andprestigious institu -
tions andacquisitions.
Self-Hatred
People withaneurotic search forglory cannever behappy withthemselves because 
when theyrealize thattheirrealselfdoesnotmatch theinsatiable demands oftheir
idealized self,theywillbegin tohateanddespise themselves:
Theglorified selfbecomes notonlyaphantom tobepursued; italsobecomes a
measuring rodwithwhich tomeasure hisactual being. Andthisactual being issuch
anembarrassing sight when viewed from theperspective ofagodlike perfection that
hecannot butdespise it.(Horney, 1950, p.110)
Horney (1950) recognized sixmajor ways inwhich people express self-hatred. 
First, self-hatred mayresult inrelentless demands on the self, which areexemplified by
thetyranny oftheshould. Forexample, some people make demands onthemselves 
thatdon’t stopevenwhen theyachieve ameasure ofsuccess. These people continue 
topush themselves toward perfection because theybelieve theyshould beperfect.
Thesecond mode ofexpressing self-hatred ismerciless self-accusation .Neurotics 
constantly berate themselves. “Ifpeople onlyknew me,theywould realize thatI’m
Many people carry theburden ofthe“tyranny oftheshould.” 
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