Deck 4: Karen Horney: Neurotic Needs and Trends

Question 1

Explain the difference between normal persons and neurotic persons in terms of the neurotic trends.

Answer 1

Neurotic trends:
Neurotic trends refer to the categories of behaviors and attitudes that express the needs of a person. Generally, neurotic trends are of three types. The three types of neurotic trends are moving towards other people, movement against other people, and moving away from others. They revise the concept of neurotic needs.
In terms of neurotic trends, the differences between neurotic and normal people are as follows:
It is common that both the normal persons and neurotic persons face some of the conflicts of the three types of neurotic trends. However, the difference between the neurotic and the normal people lies in the depth of the conflicts that arise due to the neurotic trends.
It is found that neurotic people must find ways to keep themselves non-dominant. They must try to eradicate the dominant trends in themselves whenever required. They are found to be rigid. They do not act flexibly to all the situations.
Normal people are those who exhibit all the trends according to situations. The person who is sometimes aggressive turns to be compliant and sometimes he might become detached. The normal person is found to be flexible under almost all the situations. They can adapt themselves to different kinds and types of situations.

Question 2

How does the idealized self-image of the normal, realistic person differ from the idealized selfimage of the neurotic person

Answer 2

Idealized self-image:
The idealized self-image of a person may or may not be realistic. It may vary according to different situations. The self-image of a normal person changes based on the current realistic situation faced. The self-image of neurotic person does not change rapidly. They exhibit inflexibility.
The following is the difference between the idealized self-image of normal realistic person and neurotic person:
According to Ms. H, normal realistic people are those who exhibit all the trends according to situations. In a normal person, the self-image is realistic based on the potentials, goal, and relations with other people. The normal person is found to be flexible under almost all the situations. They can adapt themselves to different kinds and types of situations. The image formed by the realistic person who is normal exhibit self-image of oneself.
Neurotic people experience conflicts between the trends of behavior. They are generally characterized as people who exhibit disunity. They do not have harmony among themselves. They exhibit their self-image for unifying their personality. They do not act flexibly to all the situations.

Question 3

Contrast the tyranny of the shoulds and the process of externalization.

Answer 3

Idealized self-image:
The idealized self-image of a person may or may not be realistic. It may vary according to different situations. The self-image of a normal person changes based on the current realistic situation faced. The self-image of neurotic person does not change rapidly. They exhibit inflexibility.
Tyranny of shoulds:
Tyranny of shoulds refers to the attempt of realizing an idea, which is unrealistic and unattainable. The self-image of the person (generally neurotic) is depicted by the exhibiting the false nature of oneself. It also refers to the act of behaving in the type by which one wants and thinks to behave.
Process of externalization:
The process of externalization refers to the way by which one behaves to defend against the conflict between the two self-images. The two images refer to the idealized self-image and the real self-image.
A contrast between "tyranny of the shoulds" and the "externalization process:"
Tyranny of shoulds reflects the idea of unrealistic and unattainable self-image whereas the process of externalization refers to the way by which one person defends upon the conflicts of the self-image.
People who exhibit tyranny of shoulds tell themselves that they must be successful in whatever they do. They want to exhibit themselves as the best in all the roles played by them such as best teacher, best mother, best friend or the best child.
The people, who come under the process of externalization, depict only hatred among others. They do not try to reduce the gap between the real and virtual self-image of the people.

Question 4

Horney rejected Freud's contention of a biological basis for female inferiority. How did she account for women's feelings of inadequacy

Question 5

What was Horney's interpretation of the Oedipus complex

Question 6

Discuss the impact of cultural forces on women's roles. Give examples.

Question 7

In what ways does Horney's image of human nature differ from Freud's

Question 8

How did Horney's use of free association differ from Freud's

Question 9

How did Horney's childhood experiences influence her personality theory

Question 10

Describe the results of research conducted on neurotic trends, on neurotic competitiveness, and on the tyranny of the shoulds.

Question 11

Describe the childhood need for safety and the kinds of parental behaviors necessary for a child's security.

Question 12

What criticisms have been directed against Horney's theory of personality

Question 13

What is basic anxiety and how does it originate

Question 14

In your opinion, what is Horney's major contribution to the study of personality

Question 15

Describe the four basic types of behavior people use in childhood to try to protect themselves from basic anxiety.

Question 16

Discuss the three neurotic trends and the behaviors associated with each.

Question 17

How do people labeled "compliant personalities" deal with other people

Question 18

In what ways do aggressive personalities differ from detached personalities Which type is more likely to be successful in their career

Question 19

How are the neurotic trends related to the selfprotective defenses against anxiety