Dr. Karen Horney

Question 1

What was notable about “Horney’s early child hood”?

Answer 1

1. Karen Horney was born in a blended family, which included four children from a previous family and a biological brother.
   * She recounts difficulty with her father
   * Mixed history with mother and brother

Question 2

List all “RTO’s”

Answer 2

1. Moving toward a people - TO
2. Moving against people - AG
3. Moving away from people - AW

Question 3

List all Interpersonal strategies of defense.

Answer 3

Compliant type.
EXPENSIVE type
Detached type

Question 4

Explain “Moving Toward People” RTO

Answer 4

TO - compliant type
Neurotic need - affection and approval.
“If I give in, I shall not be hurt.”

Question 5

Explain “Moving against people” RTO

Answer 5

AG - Expensive type
Neurotic Need - Power, personal achievement.
“if I have power, no one can hurt me”

Question 6

Explain “Moving away from people” RTO

Answer 6

AW - Detached type
Neurotic Need - Independence, self-suffocation, perfection.
“If I withdraw, nothing can hurt me”

Question 7

Explain the “Idealized image.”

Answer 7

Distorted view of self unrealistic - people can’t hurt the ideal self

• Unattainable, it’s an illusion created from feelings of inadequacy
• In an attempt to overcome intrapsychic conflict, we create an impossible image of self

Question 8

Define “Neurotic”

Answer 8

Stuck on one RTO to confront/solve all of life’s demands

Question 9

Define the ‘Tyranny of Shoulds’

Answer 9

Dividing our personalities into two selves: an ideal self and a real self.

When we don’t live up to the ideal self, we are split, and our inner critic comes out.