Essay on Karen Horney

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Karen Horney

Psychoanalytic Social Theory

Karen Horney

Psychoanalytic Social Theory

Karen Horney
(Neurosis and Human Growth, 1950)

“The ideal is the liberation and cultivation of the forces which lead to self realization.”

Intrinsic Potentialities

Forces You Cannot Teach

Intrinsic Potentialities

Self-Realization

What is psychologically healthy in human beings is qualitatively different from what is unhealthy.

What is sick operates by different psychological laws and dynamics…

…and develops in very different ways from that which is healthy.

Drive/Search for Glory

Self-Realization

Intrinsic Potentialities/Self Realization

The real self is not a fixed entity; a set of “intrinsic potentialities

Favorable Conditions
Needed for Growth

Self-Realization

Favorable Conditions
Needed for Growth
Atmosphere
of Warmth

Goodwill of Others

Healthy
Friction

Self-Realization

Favorable Conditions
Needed for Growth
Allowing
feelings of inner security and freedom... Atmosphere of Warmth

Self-Realization

Favorable Conditions
Needed for Growth
…enabling
individuals the feelings and thoughts necessary to express himself. Atmosphere of Warmth

Self-Realization

Favorable Conditions
Needed for Growth
Not only to help, but to guide and encourage him to become a mature and fulfilled individual.

The
Goodwill
of
Others

Self-Realization

Favorable Conditions
Needed for Growth
Healthy
Friction with the wishes and wills of others.

If he/she can grow with others in love and friction… Self-Realization

Favorable Conditions
Needed for Growth
…will
grow in accordance with his/her real self.

Healthy
Friction
with the wishes and wills of others.

Self-Realization

Unfavorable Conditions not conducive to growth

•Dominating

•Irritable

•Overprotective

•Over-exacting

•Intimidating

•Overindulgent

Unfavorable Conditions not conducive to growth

•Erratic
•Partial to other siblings

•Hypocritical
•Indifferent

“Basic Evil”

If parents do not satisfy child’s needs for safety and satisfaction the child develops feelings of
“Basic Hostility” toward the parents.

Typical unaware repression of this hostility leads to profound feelings of insecurity and a vague sense of apprehension (“Basic Anxiety”).

Defenses against
“Basic Anxiety”

Normal

Neurotic

Spontaneous
Movement

Compulsive
Movement

Toward People
(Friendly, loving personality)

Toward People
(Compliant personality)

Against People
(A Survivor in a
Competitive society)
Away from People
(Autonomous, serene personality) Against People
(Aggressive personality)
Away from People
(Detached personality)

Defenses against
“Basic Anxiety”
(The difference between a normal and neurotic response is the idea of “reciprocity”)

Normal

Neurotic

Spontaneous
Movement

Compulsive
Movement

Toward People
(Friendly, loving personality)

Toward People
(Compliant personality)

Against People
(A Survivor in a
Competitive society)
Away from People
(Autonomous, serene personality) Against People
(Aggressive personality)
Away from People
(Detached personality)

Neurotic Needs
1) Affection and Approval

6) Admiration

2) A Dominant Partner

7) Achievement or
Ambition

3) Power

8) Self-sufficiency

4) Exploitation

9) Perfection

5) Prestige

10) Narrow limits to life.

Neurotic Needs

3) Need for Power
Dread of recognizing any limitations of free will

Neurotic Needs
Exploitation

Neurotic Needs
(Clustered into three coping strategies)
1) Affection and Approval
2) A Dominant Partner

6) Admiration
Movement toward other people
(The compliant personality)
7) Achievement or
Ambition

3) Power

8) Self-sufficiency

4) Exploitation

9) Perfection

5) Prestige

10) Narrow limits to life.

Neurotic Needs
(Clustered into three coping strategies)
1) Affection and Approval

6) Admiration

2) A Dominant Partner

7) Achievement or
Ambition

3) Power

8) Self-suffiency

4) Exploitation
5) Prestige

Movement against other people
9) Perfection
(The aggressive personality)
10) Narrow