Karen Horney is one of the notable neo-Freudians. It means that this psychologist used to disagree with most of the Freudian principles and theories. The core idea of her theory is that every person possesses the potential for self-realization and development. She claimed that the main objective of any psychoanalysis must be trying to improve own health condition instead of examining childhood examples of dysfunction. In addition, she effused the theory that females are envy for males due to the absence of genitals and other masculine natural features. Instead, jealousy is a culturally motivated phenomenon. However, biological basis has to be considered. To Horney’s mind, men then should be envy for not being able to give birth.
The majority of Karen Horney’s theories are based on the principle of instinctive anxiety. This psychoanalyst strongly believed that the natural growth and development are often prevented by the primary anxiety taking place due to the requirements that cannot be met. I.e., isolation and absence of any communication. Horney came up with three approaches to coping with this feeling. The first one is moving toward society. It’s about becoming the part of community instead of denying it. Horney stresses the importance of talking to people and trying to understand them. In this case, children are dependent on their parents or guardians when trying to obtain attention, valuable advices, and attachment, “ which provides relief from anxiety” (Burger, 2008). These children will use the same technique when they grow up. They will perform a critical need for love and acceptance (Burger, 2008).
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The second characteristic is acting against people. It is focused on being aggressive and insists on own opinion no matter what happens. Usually, this style is chosen by children with problematic families or homeless children. They have nothing else left that to fight with the regime and society which seems cruel and unfair to them. To handle the feeling of being unsafe in this world, such children get at other kids. They tend to do the same thing when they grow. At work, they prefer to exploit others instead of doing their job alone.
Finally, Horney suggested that there is one more handling style known as moving away from society. This style stands for isolating self from any interactions with other people. For some children, this is the best method to solve their troubles with being anxious. They are searching for privacy and do not trust people. As the adults, they go on avoiding love and other forms of relations with other humans. Moreover, they try to gravitate toward various jobs that need at least a little interaction with others (Burger, 2008).
To Horney’s mind, these styles of coping with anxiety are useful for handling everyday issues when applied properly.
Reference
Burger, J. (2008). Personality. Santa Clara University, Thomson Learning Inc., Seventh Ed.: 129-154.
