6. Horney (Psychoanalytic Social Theory)

Question 1

Basic Assumption

Answer 1

Social and cultural conditions, especially during childhood, shape personality

Question 2

Cause of Basic Anxiety

Answer 2

People who do not have needs for love satisfied during childhood do not have feelings of safety and satisfaction necessary to grow in accordance with real self –> develop basic hostility toward parents and consequently suffer from basic anxiety

Question 3

Three Neurotic Trends

Answer 3

How to combat anxiety –> by (i) moving toward people, (ii) moving against people or (iii) moving away from people

Question 4

Healthy vs Neurotic approach to neurotic trends

Answer 4

Healthy people use all three

Neurotics lean on one, creating basic intrapsychic conflict that may present as idealized self-image or self-hatred

Question 5

Cause of Basic Hostility and Feelings of Isolation

Answer 5

Modern culture’s emphasis on competition among individuals –> leads to basic hostility and feelings of isolation –> leads to intensified needs for affection and overvalue love

Question 6

Defences against basic anxiety

Answer 6

Affection, submissiveness, self-protection using power, prestige or possession; withdrawal

Question 7

Moving Toward People

Answer 7

Being compliant to protect against feelings of helplessness

Question 8

Moving Against People

Answer 8

Being aggressive to protect against hostility of others

Question 9

Moving Away From People

Answer 9

Being detached to protect against feelings of isolation

Question 10

Idealized Self-Image

Answer 10

Created in effort to acquire sense of identity –> but this image only exists in personal belief system, not reality

As idealized self-image solidifies, neurotics grow toward actualizing idealized self, not real self

Question 11

Aspects of Idealized Self Image

Answer 11

(i) Neurotic Search for Glory, (ii) Neurotic Claims and (iii) Neurotic Pride

Question 12

Neurotic Search for Glory

Answer 12

Drive toward actualizing ideal self in all aspects of life through (i) need for perfection/tyranny of the should, (ii) neurotic ambition and (iii) vindictive triumph

Aspect of Idealized Self-Image

Question 13

Need for Perfection

Answer 13

Drive to mold whole personality into idealized self by erecting tyranny of the should

Aspect of Neurotic Search for Glory

Question 14

Neurotic Ambition

Answer 14

Compulsive drive toward superiority/success

Aspect of Neurotic Search for Glory

Question 15

Vindictive Triumph

Answer 15

Looks like drive for success but true aim is to humiliate others

Aspect of Neurotic Search for Glory

Question 16

Neurotic Claims

Answer 16

Build fantasy world out of touch with real world, come to feel entitled to special treatment –> indignation when not fulfilled

Aspect of Idealized Self-Image

Question 17

Neurotic Pride

Answer 17

False pride based on idealized self-image, loudly proclaimed and highly sensitive

Aspect of Idealized Self-Image

Question 18

Self-Hatred

Answer 18

When neurotic does not live up to idealized self-image, self-hatred develops

Can be expressed as (i) excessive self-demands, (ii) self-accusation, (iii) self-contempt, (iv) self-frustration, (v) self-torment and (vi) self-harm

Question 19

Intrapsychic Conflicts

Answer 19

Idealized self-image and self-hatred

Question 20

Feminine Psychology

Answer 20

Psychic differences between men and women are the result of society and culture, not biology

Oedipus complex an expression of neurotic need for love, not sex