Phil was often picked on and teased by his parents and other children when growing up. He soon learned to keep people at a distance, to spend most of his time alone. He continued this pattern as an adult, settling on a bookkeeping job that keeps him working in solitude most of the time. Which theorist might use Phil as an example to support part of his or her theory?
A) Adler
B) Erikson
C) Horney
D) Freud

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Horney's theory emphasizes the impact of early childhood experiences on adult personality. Phil's experiences of being picked on and teased by his parents and peers may have contributed to his tendency to keep people at a distance and spend most of his time alone in adulthood. Horney believed that individuals who experience rejection or neglect in childhood may develop a basic anxiety, leading to neurotic behaviors such as isolation.

Phil Was Often Picked on and Teased by His Parents