fei75766_ch06_179-205.indd 188  02/06/20 11:32 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories188
Although these neurotic trends constitute Horney’s theory ofneurosis, they
alsoapply tonormal individuals. There are,ofcourse, important differences between 
normal andneurotic attitudes. Whereas normal people aremostly orcompletely con-
scious oftheirstrategies toward other people, neurotics areunaware oftheirbasic 
attitude; although normals arefreetochoose theiractions, neurotics areforced toact;
whereas normals experience mildconflict, neurotics experience severe andinsoluble 
conflict; andwhereas normals canchoose from avariety ofstrategies, neurotics are
limited toasingle trend. Figure 6.1shows Horney’s conception ofthemutual influ-
enceofbasic hostility andbasic anxiety aswellasbothnormal andneurotic defenses 
against anxiety.
People canuseeachoftheneurotic trends tosolve basic conflict, butunfortu -
nately, these solutions areessentially nonproductive orneurotic. Horney (1950) used
thetermbasic conflict because veryyoung children aredriven inallthree directions—
toward, against, andaway from people.
Inhealthy children, these three drives arenotnecessarily incompatible. But
thefeelings ofisolation andhelplessness thatHorney described asbasic anxiety drive Defenses against anxietyBasic anxiety
Results from parental threats or
from a defense against hostility
Basic anxiety
Results from parental threats or
from a defense against hostilityBasic hostility
Results from childhood feelings of rejection or neglect
by parents or from a defense against basic anxiety
Basic anxiety
Results from parental threats or
from a defense against hostility
 Normal defenses
Spontaneous movement
Toward people
(friendly , loving personality)
Against people
(a survivor in a competitive society)
Away from people
(autonomous, serene personality)          Neurotic defenses
Compulsive movement
Toward people
(compliant personality)
Against people
(aggressive personality)
Away from people
(detached personality)
FIGURE 6.1   The Interaction of Basic Hostility and Basic Anxiety with the Defenses against 
Anxiety.Final PDF to printer