11 - Horney's Psychoanalytic Social Theory

key difference with Horney’s theory

emphasis on sociocultural forces on development of personality

Horney’s critiques of Freud

1. strict adherence to orthodox psychoanalysis would lead to stagnation in theory and therapeutic practice
2. objected Freud’s ideas on feminine psychology
3. stressed the view that psychoanalysis should move beyond instinct theory and emphasize cultural influences

Horney thought neuroses not result of repression around instinct but….

stem from us trying to grow in a hostile social world

Freuds theory is -------, Horney’s is --------

pessimistic, optimistic

impact of culture

• what is modern culture based on?

• cultural influences are primary bases for neurotic AND normal personality development
  • modern culture based on competition, leads to conflict/basic hostility, gives feelings of isolation, dealt with by striving for affection, causes overvaluing of love

how does overvaluing love become neurotic

constantly forcing relationships and connections can develop self-defeating tendencies, low self esteem, anxiety, more competition

• neuroses is a compulsive, vicious cycle

how Western culture contributes to neurotic striving for love cycle

1. competition at heart, inherent aggressiveness

   1. constant desire to be the best

2. social demands for achievement are endless

   1. excellence never good enough

3. freedom not a principle, we are constrained

   1. hyper-competitive of other people, genetics, social positions
   2. contradictions provide psychological conflicts

importance of childhood experiences

neurotic conflict can stem from any stage, but childhood has vast majority of problems

• lack of warmth and affection
• develop neurotic needs to deal with trauma of childhood
• neuroses is a character structure, built up over time
• later experiences can also contribute to neuroses
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basic hostility

repressed feelings of rage that originate during childhood when children fear that their parents will not satisfy their needs for safety and satisfaction

• turns into basic anxiety
• no conscious awareness of this
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basic anxiety

feelings of isolation and helplessness in a potentially hostile world

• not neuroses, but the soil
• source of issues that permeates every relationship
  • \

love and discpline

the key aspects of developing properly and provide feelings of safety and satisfaction from parents

• adverse potential if parents unwilling to love their child
• dominating, overprotective, neglected, rejected, over or under indulge, pampered

\

basic anxiety and basic hostility ----- into each other

feed

four ways to protect against basic anxiety

WASP

1. withdrawal
2. affection
3. submissiveness
4. power/prestige/possession

\

• don’t indicate presence of neuroses, basic strategies we all use
• unhealthy if rely on them

affection

(one of four ways people protect self from basic anxiety)

• seeking affection in inauthentic ways
• ex., purchasing love with material goods
  • \

submissiveness

(one of four ways people protect self from basic anxiety)

• submit self to world, other people, and broader social institutions
• strategy to gain affection from others

power, prestige, possession

(one of four ways people protect self from basic anxiety)

• power: tendency to dominate, control world around them, feel more powerful
• prestige: put self in position of authority to control and humiliate others to protect against own humiliation
• possession: using objects around us as a buffer to being harmed by others
  • ex., depriving others of things they need (hoarding)

withdrawal

(one of four ways people protect self from basic anxiety)

• getting away from other people
• not anxious or hurt by others who aren’t around us

compulsion

salient characteristic of all neurotic drives

• neurotics use same strategies over and over again

neurotic needs

10 key defences against basic anxiety

PREPP NAP SP

(aggressive)

1. power
2. recognition and prestige
3. exploitation
4. personal admiration
5. personal achievement

(compliant)

6. narrow limits
7. affection and approval
8. powerful partner

(detached)

9. self-sufficiency and independence
   10. perfection and unassailability

\
by fulfilling needs, we don’t have to confront the self

neurotic need for affection and approval

(compliant)

want to please others, be liked, meeting expectations

• dread self-assertion
• not capable of confronting hostility, repress own hostility
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neurotic need for a powerful partner

(compliant)

lack self-confidence so strive for partner who will protect them

• one-sided relationships, neurotic hyper values them and fears being left
  • \

neurotic need to restrict one’s life within narrow borders

(compliant)

inconspicuous, don’t like to be seen

• content with small lives, strive for second place

• downplay own capacities to extent they don’t need to show up

• dread asking others for help

  \

neurotic need for power

(aggressive)

want prestige, possession, power and control others without seeming weak, stupid, etc.

neurotic need to exploit others

(aggressive)

similar to power, evaluate relationships in terms of capacity to be used or exploited

• fear being exploited by others
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neurotic need for social recognition or prestige

(aggressive)

combat anxiety by trying to be first, important, want attract attention to self

neurotic need for personal admiration

(aggressive)

love to be admired for who they are rather than what they possess

• self esteem must be continually fed by others

neurotic need for ambition and personal achievement

(aggressive)

aim to defeat others so they can be the best

neurotic need for self-sufficiency and independence

(detached)

get away from others, show they can get on without them, fear commitment

neurotic need for perfection and unassailability

(detached)

need to be perfect, never have any challenges to self-esteem, always seem superior

• any flaws is worst situation
  • \

neurotic trend

three basic attitudes toward self and others

• moving toward people
• moving against people
• moving away from people

\

• apply to everyone
• normal people conscious of their strategies and are free to choose between
• neurotics stuck to one strategy
• children unable to use all strategies, conflict as they attempt to
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basic conflict

incompatible tendency to move toward, against, and away from people

moving toward people

• personality type
• source
• neurotic needs
• normal analog

neurotics develop need for others as a protection against feelings of helplessness

• compliant personality
• source: feelings of helplessness
• neurotic needs (NAP):
  • affection and approval
  • powerful partner
  • narrow limits to life
• normal analog: friendly, loving

\

• morbid dependency, need others
• see self as loving and generous, willing to subordinate to others

morbid dependency

in moving towards others, the strive for affection and approval of others

• may seek powerful partner to take responsibility of their lives
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moving against people

• personality type
• source
• neurotic needs
• normal analog

• aggressive personality
• source: protection against hostility of others
• neurotic needs (PREPP):
  • power
  • exploitation
  • recognition and unassailability
  • personal admiration
  • personal achievement
• normal analog: ability to survive in a competitive society

\

• thinks everyone is hostile and out for them
• appear tough, ruthless, mean
• motivated to exploit others
• hyper competitive, appear hard working
• we need others for aggression to work

moving away from people

• personality type
• source
• neurotic needs
• normal analog

• detached personality

• source: feelings of isolation

• neurotic needs:

  • self-sufficiency and independence
  • perfection and prestige

• normal analog: autonomous and serene

\

• unapproachable, closed off, in own world
• need to feel strong and powerful to be on own, overinflated sense of self
• not competitive, could threaten their strategy
  • \

intrapsychic conflicts

originate from interpersonal experiences

• experienced by everyone
• idealized self-image and self-hatred
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idealized self-image

attempt to solve basic conflicts by adopting a belief in one’s own godlike qualities

• split between ideal and real self
• leads to self-hatred
• created when feel inferior and isolated from cold home, create self image with infinite power
• neurotics lose self in ideal image
  • move towards ideal self rather than self-realization

the personality type’s idealized self images

• compliant: saintly
• aggressive: godlike, omnipotent
• detached: wise sage, sufficient hero, independent

\

self-realization

when we are in tune with our real selves, always striving for improvement

three aspects of the idealized self-image

1. neurotic search for glory

2. neurotic claims

3. neurotic pride

   1. \

neurotic search for glory (and three aspects)

(aspect of the idealized self-image)

comprehensive drive toward actualizing the ideal self

• three aspects
  • need for perfection: making the whole personality the ideal deal
  • tyranny of the should
  • neurotic ambition: compulsive drive to be superior, changes over lifetime
  • drive towards vindictive triumph: shame and destroy other people
  • from childhood desire to take revenge
  • vicious cycle

tyranny of the should

part of the neurotic search for glory

we develop “shoulds” and “should nots” on how to act

• victimized by the shoulds we fail to complete
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neurotic claims

(aspect of the idealized self-image)

unrealistic demands and expectations of neurotics to be entitled to special privilege

• neurotics live in fantasy world
• claims grow out of normal needs and wishes but become indignant when not met
• ex., Karen
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neurotic pride

(aspect of the idealized self-image)

a false pride based on one’s idealized image of self

• genuine self-esteem based on realistic attributes and accomplishments with quiet dignity
• loudly proclaimed
• pride is hurt when others don’t treat them specially
• to prevent hurt, avoid those who yield their claims
• asserted rather than earned
  • \

self-hatred

powerful tendency for neurotics to despise their real self because reality falls short of their idealized view of self

• relentless demands on the self
• merciless self-accusation
• self-contempt
• self-frustration
• self-torment and self-torture
• self-destructive actions and impulses

relentless demands on the self

(expression of self-hatred)

exemplified by tyranny of the should

• continue to push shelves to perfection
• one success never enough, always fall short

merciless self-accusation

\n (expression of self-hatred)

constantly berate self

• think they are a fraud
• underlying anxious orientation
• ex., blame self for death of family member
  • \

self contempt

\n (expression of self-hatred)

belittling, disparaging, doubting, ridiculing slef

• putting oneself down constantly
• discrediting their accomplishments
• underlying hostility and contempt for self

self-frustration

\n (expression of self-hatred)

from self-hatred and designed to actualize an inflated self-image

• taboo to have enjoyment
• excessive discipline
  • \

self-torment

\n (expression of self-hatred)

intention to inflict harm or suffering on self

• choosing to delay choices to harm self
• men: starting fight they know they will lose
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self-destructive actions and impulses

\n (expression of self-hatred)

physical or psychological, conscious or unconscious, acute or chronic, in action or imagination

• to destroy self
  • overeating, alcoholism, driving dangerously, suicide
  • sabotaging relationships

feminine psychology

psychic differences between men and women not from anatomy but cultural and social expectations

• any sexual attraction or hostility of child to parent result of learning not biology (oedipus complex)
• men dominate because of neurotic competitiveness in societies
• mens need to subjugate women, women’s wish to humiliate men
• oedipal complex expression for neurotic need for love
• no penis envy, masculine protest as desire for qualities and privileges that are masculine
  • \

psychotherapy goal

help patients grow toward self-realization, give up idealized self-image, relinquish neurotic search for glory, change self-hatred to an acceptance of the real self

\

why is psychotherapy difficult with neurotics?

they belief their neurotic solutions are correct

• compulsive behaviours that temporarily reduce their anxiety
• therapist must convince patient their solutions are perpetrating
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successful therapy is built in ------ ------

self analysis

• must understand difference between ideal and real self
• patients develop confidence in ability to assume responsibility for psychological development

inherent curative force

force that we possess that pushes us toward self-realization once self-understanding and self-analysis are achieved

dream interpretation for Horney

dreams are attempts to solve conflicts

free association for horney

reveals patients idealized self image and attempts to accomplish it

• used as grounds for self-analysis
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critique

• limited applicability (neurosis)
• therapeutic considerations
• limited research