Karen Horney was a neo-Freudian psychoanalyst who disagreed with some of Freud's theories, particularly his views on women. She developed her own theories around neurosis, arguing it stemmed from disturbed childhood relationships rather than sexual drives. Horney outlined 10 neurotic needs that drive defensive behaviors in response to childhood anxiety. Unlike Freud, she believed people have the ability to change and work towards self-realization rather than being determined by instinctual drives.

1. Horney
Karen Horney (Neo-Freudians)
Birthday: 16/09/1885-04/12/1952
Work: Psychoanalyst focusing on neurosis. Disagreed with Freud’s view of women and developed Feminine Psychology
Relationship Status: Fell in love with her brother, but married Osker Horney in 1909.
Neo-Freudian
• Psychoanalysis is a psychological and psychotherapeutic theory developed by Sigmund Freud in the late 19th
Century.
• Suggests that personality and development is determined by events in early childhood
• Freud believed that women suffered penis envy Karen Horney
• Freud’s ideas and theories of women were vague and lacked evidence. This led to other theorists’ disagreeing with
some aspects of his theories. These theorists who modified and expanded his theories are called Neo-Freudians 1926
• Horney developed her theories of neurosis and personality types based on her critique of Freud and her experiences “Like all sciences and all valuations, the psychology of women has hitherto been considered only from the point
as a clinician. of view of men.”
Neurosis
Diagram of Top Ten Neurotic Needs
• Neurosis is the “psychic disturbance brought by fears and defences against these fears, and by attempts to find
compromise solutions for conflicting tendencies”
• Freud believed neurosis was a result of a person’s inability to cope with their sexual impulses
• Horney disagreed. According to Horney, neurosis was based upon disturbed relationships between parents and
children.
• Poor parenting, for example, little respect for the child's individual needs, lack of adequate guidance, having to take
sides in parental disagreements, too much or too little responsibility, over-protection and shielding from peers,
discrimination, hostile atmosphere, could cause anxiety (feeling of isolation, hostility and helplessness) that turns
into neurosis
• Top cope with the feelings of anxiety, children use defensive attitudes (protective devices which make them feel
safe)
• Horney described these defensive attitudes that make the environment feel like a safer place as neurotic needs- and
thus she developed her theory of the 10 neurotic needs.
Theories Freud Horney
Similarities and Neurosis  Instinctual drives determined biologically.
 Deny problems.
 Feelings and attitudes
determined by culture.
differences  Ego concept without initiative or executive
powers.
 Deal with problems.
 Driven by emotional forces.
10 neurotic needs-Narcissism and relationships
 Convulsive drives but not driven to  Compulsive drives but are
between Psychoanalysis
neurosis.
 Avoids self-realisation.
neurotic.
 Looking for self-realisation
Moving Towards People
Horney and  Love for the analyst.  Help from analyst to deal
with life.
-The need for affection and approval; pleasing others and being liked by them.
Inner Conflicts  Repressed.  Abilities to be a decent -The want for companionship; one who they can love and who will take care of them.
Freud’s  Did not believe in human goodness and
growth.
person.
 Man can change.
Moving Against People
Freud’s Theories  Believed that primary and secondary penis-  Agreed that primary and -The need for power and authority; the ability to have control over others—while most persons look for
theories. 
envy exists.
Feminity derived from primary, original,
secondary penis-envy exists.
 Feminity was primary. A
strength, the neurotic may be desperate for it.
masculinity. little girl is female from the -The need to manipulate others; to get the better of them; also to have the belief that people are there simply to
beginning.
be used.
-The desire for social recognition; prestige and to be in the spotlight.
-The need for personal approval; for both inner and outer qualities and simply wanting to be valued.
Self realization -The need for personal achievement; though virtually all persons wish to make achievements, as with No. 3, the
neurotic may be desperate for achievement.
The neurotic individual has a different perception of things. The Moving Away from People
neurotics self is "split" into a despised self and an ideal self. -The need for self-sufficiency and individuality; while most want some independence, the neurotic may simply
Other theorists hypothesise a "looking-glass" self, the way you wish to discard other individuals entirely.
think others see you. Out of these "shoulds“ you create an ideal -The need for fulfilment and achievement; while some are driven to fulfil their lives in the form of well being,
self. The ideal self is unrealistic and impossible to achieve, the neurotic fear being flawed.
therefore it is not a positive goal. The neurotic individual -Lastly, the need to restrict life practices to within narrow borders; to live as inconspicuous a life as possible
swings back and forth between hating themselves and
pretending to be perfect.
Evaluation
Defense Mechanisms
Defence Mechanisms Definition
Positive
Blind Spots Painful experiences can be ignored, due to them being at odds with the • Well structured, thought out and clearly explained theories.
person’s idealised self. • Provided a foundation to other theorists to base their research, (but she is not always given credit for this).
Compartmentalisation By separating incompatible needs, Neurotic Individuals can manage • The way she provided a female view point on a very male dominated psychoanalytic field.
their anxiety.
Rationalisation Individuals can rid anxiety that is associated with a particular situation
by offering excuses for their behaviour.
Excessive Self-Control Emotion needs to be in under control all the time by using self-control. Negative
Proudly say that they never get angry, but in reality it is that they never
• Although she explains here theories well, she doesn't explain how they relate specifically to particular
allow themselves to get angry e.g. will not drink alcohol in case they
lose control. developmental experiences.
Arbitrary Rightness Individuals are convinced that they are always correct in all their • Karen Horney was experiencing psychological problems when she developed her theories this could have
judgements. Cannot tolerate self-doubt and indecision. Always has to biased her theories.
be correct. • There is little evidence to support and test Horney’s theory’s although the theories did produce a bias for
Elusiveness Person refusing to take a view on anything or express definite opinion- other’s researchers work.
which allows them not to be criticised by others. Always sit on fence.
Cynicism Individual believes in nothing. Cannot be disappointed by having no
positive expectations of others or situations. Criticise individuals who
hold these values, and deny holding moral values themselves.
Produced:
Guto Gwilym, Ivy Jo Lucas, Delyth Elliw Kerr, Sioned Leisa Thomas, Meleri Fflur Williams, Ceri Wyn Jones,
Elin Harding Williams & Elen Wyn Evans.