Karen Horney's Social and Cultural Psychoanalysis

Flashcards covering the biography, core concepts, neurotic needs, intrapsychic conflicts, adjustment techniques, and assessment methods of Karen Horney's Social and Cultural Psychoanalysis.

Where and when was Karen D. Horney born?

Hamburg, Germany in 1885.

What were the descriptions of Karen Horney's mother and father?

Her mother was young, dynamic, and freethinking, while her father was a ship captain who was religious and authoritarian.

What major personal events occurred in Karen Horney's life between 1904 and 1911?

Her mother divorced her father in 1904; she married Oscar Horney in 1909; she gave birth to Brigitte, the first of her three daughters, in 1910; and her mother Sonni died in 1911, after which she entered psychoanalysis.

What hardships did Karen Horney experience in 1923?

Oscar's business collapsed and he developed meningitis, her brother died, and she wanted to commit suicide.

In what year did Karen Horney move to New York?

1926.

What three major criticisms did Karen Horney hold regarding Freud's psychoanalysis?

1. Its rigidity toward new ideas. 2. Its skewed view of feminine psychology. 3. Its overemphasis on biology and the pleasure principle.

What is the basic tenet of Karen Horney's theory?

Social and cultural conditions, especially during childhood, have a powerful effect on later personality.

How does modern culture impact personality according to Karen Horney?

Modern culture is too competitive, leading to hostility and feelings of isolation, which causes exaggerated needs for affection and overvaluing love.

According to Horney, what is the primary origin of neurotic conflict?

Childhood traumas, most of which are traced to a lack of genuine love.

How does Karen Horney define basic hostility?

Childhood feelings of rejection or neglect by parents, or a defense against basic anxiety.

How does Karen Horney define basic anxiety?

Feelings of insecurity and a pervasive sense of apprehension where the person feels isolated and helpless.

What are the four methods of protection from basic anxiety listed by Horney?

(1) Affection, (2) Submissiveness, (3) Power or prestige, and (4) Withdrawal.

What adjustment technique, underlying belief, and personality type are associated with the neurotic needs for affection, approval, a partner, and narrow limits?

Adjustment Technique: Moving Towards People; Belief: "If I give in, I shall not be hurt"; Personality Type: Compliant Type.

How is the Compliant Type personality characterized?

The individual wants to be liked, wanted, desired, loved, accepted, and approved, but is basically hostile.

What adjustment technique, underlying belief, and personality type are associated with the neurotic needs for power, exploiting others, social recognition, personal admiration, and personal achievement?

Adjustment Technique: Moving Against People; Belief: "if I have power, none will hurt me"; Personality Type: Hostile Type.

How is the Hostile Type personality characterized?

Capable of acting polite and friendly, but friendliness is used as a means to an end and is superficial, based on repressed aggressiveness.

What adjustment technique, underlying belief, and personality type are associated with the neurotic needs for self-sufficiency, independence, perfection, and unavailability?

Adjustment Technique: Moving Away from People; Belief: "If I withdraw nothing can hurt me"; Personality Type: Detached Type.

How do neurotic individuals differ from normal individuals regarding the three directional trends?

In neurotic individuals, one trend (compliant, aggressive, or detached) predominates while the two other trends are repressed.

What are the two major categories of intrapsychic conflicts?

A. The Idealized Self-Image and B. Self-Hatred.

What three elements constitute the Idealized Self-Image?

(1) Neurotic search for glory, (2) neurotic claims, and (3) neurotic pride.

What six elements constitute Self-Hatred?

(1) Relentless demands on self, (2) merciless self-accusation, (3) self-contempt, (4) self-frustration, (5) self-torment or self-torture, and (6) self-destructive actions and impulses.

What is hypercompetitiveness?

An indiscriminate need to win at all costs in order to feel superior.

What behaviors characterize competition avoidance?

Minimizing chances for success by belittling oneself, feeling embarrassed or humiliated by competitive defeat, and engaging in self-handicapping.

What is self-handicapping in competition avoidance?

Giving plausible excuses for poor performance in order to protect one's self-esteem.

How is the secondary adjustment technique of Blind Spots defined?

Denying or ignoring certain aspects of an experience because they are not in accordance with one's idealized self-image.

How is Compartmentalization defined as a secondary adjustment technique?

Dividing one's life into various compartments with different rules applying to them.

What is Excessive Self-control in Horney's secondary adjustment techniques?

Guarding against anxiety by controlling an expression.

How is Externalization defined as a secondary adjustment technique?

Feeling that all of the major influences in life are external to one's self.

What is Arbitrary Rightness?

When an issue arises that has no clear solution, the person arbitrarily chooses one solution, thereby ending debate.

What is Elusiveness as a secondary adjustment technique?

Never making a decision about anything so that one can never be proven wrong and criticized or ridiculed by others.

How is Cynicism defined as a secondary adjustment technique?

Not believing in anything so that one cannot be hurt or disappointed by others.

How did Karen Horney's approach to the analyst-patient relationship differ from Freud's?

Horney practiced more honesty with patients and was active and directive in offering suggestions.