Jamie V.

Canauay
MA-Psychology

Karen Horney: A Socio-cultural approach

Biographical sketch
Karen Horney (pronounced "horn-eye") nee Danielssen (1885-1952) was the
daughter of an often-absent, authoritarian ship captain his own children called "the
Bible-thrower" and a narcissistic mother who openly despised her husband.
She grew up in Hamburg and entered medical school against her parents' wishes
in 1906.
She married Oscar Horney in 1910.
Horney suffered a bout of depression when she gave birth to her first daughter.
She underwent therapy with Karl Abraham. The analyst didnt cure her of her
depression.
In 1922, she read her first paper at a psychoanalytic conference, attacking her
former analyst's and Freud's denigration of women as inherently discontented with
their sex.
1930, she and her three daughters moved to Brooklyn, her husband eventually
divorced her; a year later she began an affair with Erich Fromm, whom she later
found detached and withdrawing; other affairs followed but she never remarried.
In 1941, she resigned from the New York Psychoanalytic Institute--where she'd
taught since 1934--after repeated criticisms of her attacks on Freudian patriarchy
(Freud called her "mean" and "malicious") and helped found the Association for
the Advancement of Psychoanalysis
She died of cancer in 1952.

Overview of Psychoanalytic Social Theory

The psychoanalytic social theory of Karen Horney was built on the assumption that
social and cultural conditions, especially childhood experiences, are largely
responsible for shaping personality.
People who do not have their needs for love and affection satisfied during
childhood develop basic hostility toward their parents and, as a consequence,
suffer from basic anxiety.
Humans motivated by need for security and love, not by sex and aggression
Influence of gender experience
Comparison with Freud:
Jamie V. Canauay
MA-Psychology

o Horney criticized Freudian theory on at least three accounts: (1) its rigidity
toward new ideas, (2) its skewed view of feminine psychology, and (3) its
overemphasis on biology and the pleasure principle.
The Impact of Culture
o Horney insisted that modern culture is too competitive and that competition
leads to hostility and feelings of isolation. These conditions lead to
exaggerated needs for affection and cause people to overvalue love.
The Importance of Childhood Experiences
o Neurotic conflict stems largely from childhood traumas, most of which are
traced to a lack of genuine love. Children who do not receive genuine
affection feel threatened and adopt rigid behavioral patterns in an attempt
to gain love.
THE BASIC NATURE OF HUMAN BEINGS
Karen Horney's psychoanalytic social theory assumes that social and cultural
conditions, especially during childhood, have a powerful effect on later personality.
Horney accepted many of Freud's observations, but she objected to most of his
interpretations, including his notions on feminine psychology.
Horney agrees with Adler that our inherent nature is constructive. We strive to
develop our healthy potentialities, and pathological behavior occurs only if this
innate force toward positive growth (self-realization) is blocked by external, social
forces.
Horney's concept of humanity is rated very high on social factors, high on free
choice, optimism, and unconscious influences, and about average on causality
versus teleology and on the uniqueness of the individual.
THE STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY
Horney shares Freuds views about the importance of unconscious processes,
including powerful and actively maintained repressions.
She emphatically rejects Adlers holistic approach.

Basic Anxiety
When safety and satisfaction is not felt by the child.
Refusal of parents to love their children.
Pervasive feeling of loneliness and helplessness
Jamie V. Canauay
MA-Psychology

Foundation of neurosis
4 Protective Devices from basic anxiety:
1. Securing love and affection Purchasing love
2. Submissiveness - compliance
3. Attaining power - Prestige and possession
4. Withdrawing Emotional detachment
Coping with Basic Anxiety
Moving toward people
o A neurotic attempt to reduce anxiety and gain safety by being cared for and
protected, while repressing feelings of aggressiveness and detachment and
healthy self-assertiveness.
Moving against people
o A neurotic attempt to reduce anxiety and gain safety by dominating and
mastering other people, while repressing feelings of helplessness and
detachment and healthy needs for love.
Moving away from people
o A neurotic attempt to reduce anxiety and gain safety by avoiding other
people and trying to be completely self-sufficient, while repressing feelings
of helplessness and aggressiveness and healthy needs for friendship and
love.
Compulsive Drives: Neurotic Needs
Irrational defenses against anxiety that become a permanent part of
personality and that affect behavior.
Includes the 4 Protective Devices from basic anxiety.
Jamie V. Canauay
MA-Psychology

Compulsive Drives: Neurotic Trends

Toward People Against People Away from People

The The Aggressive The Detached

Complainant
Personality Personality
Personality

Basic conflict Feelings of Protection against Feelings of

or source of helplessness hostility of isolation
neurotic trend others

Neurotic needs 1. Affection and 4. Power 9. Self-sufficiency

approval and
independence

2. Powerful 5. Exploitation
partner

6. Recognition 10. Perfection and

and prestige
unassailability

3. Narrow limits 7. Personal

to life admiration

8. Personal
achievement

Normal analog Friendly, loving Ability to survive Autonomous and

in a serene
competitive
society
Jamie V. Canauay
MA-Psychology

Intrapsychic Conflict
The Idealized Image Self-Hatred (Self-Contempt)
A grandiose, glorious self-image that Hating ones true abilities, feelings, and
conceals ones weak and hated real self. wishes because they differ from (and
Aspects of Idealized Self-Image: seem much worse than) the glorious
a) Search for Glory idealized image.
b) Neurotic Claims Aspects of Self-Hatred:
c) Neurotic Pride a) Relentless demands on self
b) Merciless self-accusation
c) Self-contempt
d) Self-frustration
e) Self-torment
f) Self-destruction

Feminine Psychology
Revision of psychoanalysis to include psychological conflicts found in the traditional ideal
of womanhood and womens roles.
Psychotherapy
Free Association
Dream Analysis
o Goal: facilitate behavior towards self- realization.
Criticisms of Horney
Theory of personality not as well constructed as Freudian theory
Ignores roles of sociology and anthropology in influencing personality
Observations too influenced by middle class America

Concept of Humanity
Horney's concept of humanity is rated very high on social factors, high on free choice,
optimism, and unconscious influences, and about average on causality versus
teleology and on the uniqueness of the individual.