Psychology: Karen Horney's Psychoanalytic Social Theory

Psychoanalytic Social Theory - Karen Horney

• Developed the Psychoanalytic Social Theory, emphasizing social influences on personality development
• Defined personality as the result of social relationships during early childhood, not biological factors
• Believed the social relationship between the child and parents is crucial

Horney's View on Neurosis

• Defined neurosis as the inability to adapt, experiencing excessive negative or obsessive thoughts and behaviors
• Believed neurosis results from basic anxiety caused by interpersonal relationships
• Basic anxiety arises from unmet needs for love and affection in childhood

Three Fundamental Styles of Relating to Others

• Moving toward people
• Moving against people
• Moving away from people
• Normal individuals use various modes, while neurotics rigidly rely on one mode

Intrapyschic Conflict

• Idealized self-image expressed as:
  • Neurotic search for glory
  • Neurotic claims
  • Neurotic pride
• Self-hatred expressed as:
  • Self-contempt
  • Alienation from self

The Importance of Childhood Experiences

• Childhood dominated by the safety need (need for security and freedom from fear)
• Social forces, not biological forces, influence personality development

Neurotic Needs

• 10 categories of neurotic needs to combat basic anxiety:
  1. Need for a powerful partner
  2. Need to restrict one’s life within narrow borders
  3. Need for power
  4. Need for ambition and personal achievement
  5. Need for self-sufficiency and independence
  6. Need for perfection and unassailability ...and four others

Neurotic Trends

• Moving toward people
• Moving against people
• Moving away from people

Aspects of the Idealized Image

• Neurotic search for glory: comprehensive drive toward actualizing the ideal self
• Need for: drive to mold the whole personality into the idealized self
• Neurotic ambition: compulsive drive toward superiority
• Drive toward a vindictive triumph

Learn about Karen Horney's psychoanalytic social theory, which emphasizes the role of social relationships in shaping personality. This quiz covers Horney's definition of personality, the importance of early childhood experiences, and how social influences impact personal development.