Personality Theories Chapter 6

Horney: Psychoanalytic Social Theory

What is the main idea of Horney’s psychoanalytic social theory?

Personality is shaped mainly by social and cultural experiences, especially early childhood relationships—not biology.

What is basic hostility?

Repressed anger toward parents when a child’s needs for safety and love are not met.

What is basic anxiety?

A feeling of being isolated, helpless, and unsafe in the world, caused by repressed hostility.

What are neurotic trends?

Three rigid ways people cope with anxiety:

• Moving toward (compliant)

• Moving against (aggressive)

• Moving away (detached)

What is Horney’s “basic conflict”?

The internal struggle between moving toward, against, and away from people at the same time.

What is the idealized self-image?

An unrealistic, perfect version of oneself created to cope with anxiety and conflict.

What is self-hatred?

Negative feelings toward the real self when it does not match the idealized self.

What is the neurotic search for glory?

A compulsive drive to achieve the idealized perfect self (perfection, superiority, success).

What is the tyranny of the “should”?

Rigid rules people create for themselves about how they must behave or be perfect.

What are neurotic claims?

Unrealistic beliefs that one deserves special treatment based on their idealized self.

What is neurotic pride?

False self-esteem based on an idealized self-image, not the real self.

What is the main goal of Horney’s therapy?

To help individuals move from the idealized self → real self (self-realization).