Horney talks about a real self and an idealized self. Those who live in accordan
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Question
Horney talks about a real self and an idealized self. Those who live in accordance with their real self are considered healthy, while those who live in accordance with their idealized self are considered neurotic. There is conflict between the real self and idealized self for everyone and it is more extreme for those who are neurotic. Horney talks about seven devices that people use to deal with these conflicts: blind spots, compartmentalization, rationalization, excessive control, arbitrary rightness, elusiveness, and cynicism.
Based on your readings about Karen Horney's approach to personality development, answer the following:
Give an example of at least two devices you have seen someone use from the given list.
Horney has been criticized and praised for elaborating on Freud's theory by adding feminine components. How is her theory similar to and different from Freud's theory of personality? Identify at least two similarities and differences.
Using Horney's theory, attempt to explain why someone might use the major adjustment techniques the way they do.
Explain Horney's theory with reference to people in general?
How does Horney's theory help an individual in managing the conflict between his real self and idealized self?
How are the uses of each of the selected devices in the adjustment techniques considered either neurotic or healthy?
Explanation / Answer
Horney's theory is related to her personal life and how she was able to deal with her problems. Her idea of neurosis and psychoanalysis involving inner conflicts is regarded as one of the best theories in this area. Neurosis is how people cope and have control over interpersonal issues that happen day to day, according to Horney. Another theory she addresses is the idea of personality in conjunction with psychoanalysis. Below, her theories are examed in more depth by actually seeing how she disagrees with Freud and what her ideas are for neuroses and psychoanalysis. Neurosis: Neurosis is a "psychic disturbance brought by fears and defenses against these fears, and by attempts to find compromise solutions for conflicting tendencies" (The Neurotic Personality Of Our Time, 28-29). This describes an individual having trouble with coping and handling certain psychosocial environmental stressors resulting in problems within their selves. Also, neurotic can not be diagnosed without looking at their culture background. Neurotic feelings and attitudes are determined by the way they live, according to Horney. However, Freud believes "instinctual drives or object relationships that are frequent in our culture are biologically determined" (The Neurotic Personality of Our Time, 20). Horney feels Freud ignores the culture factors which consequently leads to false acquisitions. Also, it disrupts the understanding of what actually motivates our actions and attitudes. The neurotic shares their fears with other cultures. In a certain culture the fears are less when there are devices to protect them like rites or customs. Freud suggests that a neurotic's real self is determined by his concept of ego. This concept of ego is without initiative or executive powers. However, Horney thinks a neurotic is driven by these emotional forces that are involved in their lives. Also, Horney believes that Freudian's theory about sexuality and continuous compulsives, is interfering with an individual, the family, and social factors where there is organization of values, and attitudes. Freud believes they are compulsive drives from nature, involving every human being. This can not be valid according to Horney, if these "neuroses were an outgrowth of disturbed human relationships" (Inner Conflicts,12). She believes they are compulsive drives but become neurotic by a human feeling isolated, helpless, afraid, and hostile. They represent ways of coping with their life despite these problems called "neurotic trends" (Self-Analysis, 40). Neurotic Needs 1.) The neurotic has a desperate need for acceptance and affection. Anxiety will occur without these. Neurotics see life as if everything is reasonable and suitable to fit their needs but in reality it is impossible. 2.) The neurotic has a need for love when in an intimate relationship and expect their partners to take over their lives by solving their problems. 3.) The neurotic need to make things more simpler by having no routine or rules. Also, when at the point of stress, they want to be unnoticeable and avoid confrontation that may add to their frustration. 4.) The neurotic needs to have control and power over others. 5.) The neurotic has a need to manipulate others. They have this need because of their concern of being used or looking stupid. Practical jokes that may be funny to others are often not funny to the neurotic. 6.) The neurotic has a need to be recognized socially. They are extremely concerned with appearance and popularity. So, they strive to be outgoing. 7.) The neurotic has a need for others to admire their inner qualities. They are desperate perfectionists, fearing being unimportant or meaningless to others. 8.) Neurotics need personal accomplishment. They are obsessed with it. They want to be leader of everyone, being top of the world and number one at everything. 9.) Neurotics need independence. They refuse help from others, thinking they can accomplish things by themselves. Also, if they did receive assistance than it would not be just themselves recognized but the other person as well. They rather have all the attention focused on them individually. 10.) Neurotics need perfection, hoping that everything in life is just going to get better and better. They fear failure and people finding out that they make mistakes. They feel it is important to be in charge of the all situations. A neurotic person will go to the extremes for their devices because "an impairment of his capacities for achievement and enjoyment" (The Neurotic Personality of Our Time, 26). A suffering neurotic is unaware and tries to solve it by these certain solutions or needs which are unrealistic. Psychoanalysis: Her theoretical approach to this is describing it towards people's personalities. The personality she gave is an example of children and how parents as well as other socializing factors influence their personality. For instance, a normal child goes through life having certain characteristics of themselves when relating experiences with school, hobbies, and home. However, when looking at a child that is neurotic the environmental factors isolates their true self. Also, older people can be described as neurotic, characterized by no self-worth, loss of decision making or interest, afraid or obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, and depressed. The goal of this analysis is to basically change the person's opinions and perception of life by seeking a person's potential of self-realization. This emphasizes that the neurotic should be aware of their environmental factors that surround them and their inner-self, knowing who they are. This means "striving toward a clearer and deeper experiencing" (Neurosis And Human Growth, 364) with the direction of their lives. This analysis "cannot solve the ills of the world" (Self-Analysis, 10) but it can explain the neurotic's problems and try to help them. Psychoanalysis therapy is "helping people toward their best possible further development" (Self-Analysis, 37). Freud suggests that this therapy involves the neurotic developing love for the analyst in addition to seeking help. However, Horney feels this is "not prompted by love for the analyst" (Self-Analysis, 20) but is the patients fear of people and their way of coping with life. The patient would feel helpless otherwise. Freud suggests that in order for people to overcome their resistance they need to deny them. Horney suggests differently. She thinks "the strength of the resisting forces and the strength of the self to deal with them" (Self-Analysis, 269). Inner Conflicts : Freud was aware of the inner conflicts, but saw them as repressed or repressing. Freud's regards to man's inner self with a "disbelief in human goodness and growth" (Inner Conflicts, 19). He mentioned man was condemned to destroy and suffer. She saw these conflicts in a different way. The conflicts were between contradictory neurotic trends and the attitudes toward self, qualities, and set of values. Horney believed that each of us has the capability and potential to become a decent person. This comes from the relationship with ourselves as well as with others which is disturbed with problems. However, "man can change and go on changing as long as he lives" (Inner Conflicts, 19). So, Horney disagrees with Freud and establishes her own perception on these ideas when looking at psychoanalysis and neuroses that involve inner conflicts.
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