Karen Horney

Question 1

According to Horney, which two factors play a major role in shaping human personality?

Answer 1

SOCIAL and CULTURAL conditions

(most especially childhood experiences)

Question 2

A person grows up in a household lacking warmth and affection, leading to a feeling of resentment and hostility toward their parents. What does Horney call this feeling?

Answer 2

Basic hostility

Question 3

If a child does not feel loved or secure, they may develop an ongoing sense of being lonely and helpless. What term did Horney use to describe this feeling?

Answer 3

Basic anxiety

Question 4

A person experiences inner conflict due to societal expectations, making them feel inadequate. According to Horney, what is a major cause of this conflict?

Answer 4

Cultural influences

Question 5

Someone constantly seeks affection and approval to feel secure. Which of Horney’s ways of self-protection against basic anxiety is this?

Answer 5

Securing affection and love

Question 6

A person avoids conflicts by complying with others’ wishes, believing that submission will protect them from harm. Which self-protective behavior is this?

Answer 6

Being submissive

Question 7

When faced with social anxiety, someone withdraws emotionally and avoids deep connections. Which self-protection method are they using?

Answer 7

Withdrawing psychologically

Question 8

A person exerts control and seeks positions of power to compensate for feelings of helplessness. Which self-protection strategy does this represent?

Answer 8

Attaining power over others

Question 9

A child becomes angry and hostile due to a lack of parental warmth. According to Horney, what type of anger is this?

Answer 9

Basic hostility

Question 10

If a child feels fearful and insecure due to a lack of affection from their parents, they are likely to develop what?

Answer 10

Basic anxiety

Question 11

According to Horney, what is the primary influence on a child’s personality development?

Answer 11

The relationship between the child and the parents

Question 12

A person avoids making big life changes and prefers stability, even if it means missing out on new opportunities. Which neurotic need are they displaying?

Answer 12

Neurotic need to restrict one’s life within narrow borders

Question 13

Someone has an intense need for admiration and validation, always seeking praise from others. Which neurotic need does this represent?

Answer 13

Neurotic need for personal admiration

Question 14

A person is compelled to achieve high status and gain recognition in social circles. Which neurotic need does this behavior fulfill?

Answer 14

Neurotic need for social recognition/prestige

Question 15

If an individual constantly tries to exploit others for personal gain, seeing people as tools for achieving their goals, which neurotic need are they exhibiting?

Answer 15

Neurotic need to exploit others

Question 16

Someone constantly seeks positions of authority, needing to feel they’re in control and above others. Which neurotic need is this?

Answer 16

Neurotic need for power

Question 17

A person prefers to be alone and avoids dependency on anyone, believing self-sufficiency is crucial to their identity. Which neurotic need might they be expressing?

Answer 17

Neurotic need for self-sufficiency and independence

Question 18

When a person is intensely competitive, striving to outperform everyone else around them, which neurotic need could this be an example of?

Answer 18

Neurotic need for ambition and personal achievement

Question 19

An individual obsesses over being perfect, constantly criticizing their performance and appearance to eliminate any flaws. Which neurotic need are they experiencing?

Answer 19

Neurotic need for perfection and unassailability

Question 20

An individual relies on a strong, supportive partner for all major decisions and feels lost when alone. Which neurotic need could this indicate?

Answer 20

Neurotic need for a powerful partner

Question 21

A person tends to be controlling, exploitative, and strives to appear powerful to avoid feeling vulnerable. Which neurotic trend are they displaying?

Answer 21

Moving against people

Question 22

Someone is always seeking approval and validation, believing that others’ support is necessary for their self-worth. Which neurotic trend is this?

Answer 22

Moving toward people

Question 23

If a person distances themselves emotionally from others to maintain their independence, which neurotic trend are they exhibiting?

Answer 23

Moving away from people

Question 24

What does Horney refer to as the core of a person’s being, representing their true potential?

Answer 24

The real self

Question 25

The state where a person can freely pursue and fulfill their potential

Answer 25

Self-realization

Question 26

A person believes they must be perfect and uncriticizable to feel valued. What intrapsychic conflict might they be struggling with?

Answer 26

Idealized self-image

Question 27

When a person’s real self does not meet their high self-expectations, they begin to despise themselves. What term does Horney use to describe this feeling?

Answer 27

Self-hatred

Question 28

Someone seeks superiority and success in every area of life, feeling that they must always be the best. Which aspect of the idealized self-image is this?

Answer 28

Neurotic ambition

Question 29

A person believes they must be flawless in all aspects of life, driven by an internal “should.” Which aspect of the idealized self-image is this?

Answer 29

Need for perfection

Question 30

A person seeks to prove others wrong or make them feel inferior through their own success. Which drive within the idealized self-image does this represent?

Answer 30

Drive toward vindictive triumph

Question 31

A person engages in reckless behaviors, seeming to harm themselves intentionally. Which self-hatred expression is this?

Answer 31

Self-destructive actions and impulses

Question 32

A person constantly accuses themselves of failures and flaws, never forgiving their own mistakes. Which form of self-hatred does this demonstrate?

Answer 32

Merciless self-accusation

Question 33

Someone deliberately avoids joy or success, believing they don’t deserve it. Which form of self-hatred does this show?

Answer 33

Self-frustration

Question 34

What psychological tendency did Horney say men display to subjugate women, stemming from basic anxiety?

Answer 34

The need to subjugate women

Question 35

Horney suggested that a girl's desire to be like a man is not a sign of penis envy. What did she argue this desire actually reflects?

Answer 35

A wish for qualities or privileges considered masculine in society

Question 36

When someone projects their insecurities onto others to avoid dealing with their own inner conflicts, what defense mechanism are they using?

Answer 36

Externalization

Question 37

A person behaves differently in various settings, keeping these behaviors separate to avoid inner conflict. Which protective structure is this?

Answer 37

Compartmentalization

Question 38

A person ignores certain flaws in themselves that don’t align with their ideal self-image. Which protective structure is this?

Answer 38

Blind spots

Question 39

A person justifies questionable actions by giving “good” reasons that align with their ideal self-image. Which defensive mechanism is this?

Answer 39

Rationalization

Question 40

A person asserts their opinion as the only correct answer, refusing to acknowledge any doubts. Which protective mechanism does this describe?

Answer 40

Arbitrary rightness

Question 41

Someone avoids displaying any emotion to prevent feeling overwhelmed by them. What form of artificial harmony are they practicing?

Answer 41

Excessive self-control

Question 42

Someone dismisses all moral values as pointless to avoid facing disappointment or conflict. Which defense mechanism is this?

Answer 42

Cynicism

Question 43

A person avoids taking a stance on issues to avoid being judged or proven wrong. Which artificial harmony approach is this?

Answer 43

Elusiveness

Question 44

A person undergoes therapy to improve their self-awareness and behavior, believing they can make lasting changes. Which of Horney’s principles supports this belief?

Answer 44

Optimism-Positivism Principle

Question 45

A person develops a personality style that fits their values and beliefs but also allows them to act freely within those boundaries. Which principle explains this structure?

Answer 45

Character-Structure Principle

Question 46

A person feels pressured to adhere to certain social norms that are deeply embedded in their community’s culture. Which principle of Horney’s theory would explain this influence?

Answer 46

Society-Culture Principle

Question 47

A person uses journaling to reflect on their emotions, attempting to understand their behavior and address personal issues. Which principle of Horney’s theory does this practice exemplify?

Answer 47

Self-Analysis Principle

Question 48

A person experiences ongoing anxiety and internal conflict as a result of their troubled childhood relationships. Which principle of Horney’s theory explains this situation?

Answer 48

Complementation-Conflict Principle

Question 49

A person begins to see themselves as a valuable individual, aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Which principle of Horney’s theory describes this awareness?

Answer 49

Self-Concept Principle