The Theories of Karen Horney

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the theories of Karen Horney, who was the first female psychologist of any note in a time when all of the great theorists were men. Her theories sought to uncover the causes of neuroses. The paper explores the theoretical basis of Horney's theories and then compares them to those of her contemporaries, particularly Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, Erick Fromm and Carl Rogers.

Table of Contents:
Theory of Neurotic Needs
Horney and Freud
Alfred Adler
Erick Fromm
Carl Rogers
Discussion

From the Paper:

"Horney, Freud and Adler focused on childhood as the source of experiences that lead to neuroses. However, there was not mention in any of the theories as to whether they felt that this was the only time when neuroses developed, or whether one could develop these differences between expectations and what one felt later in life. This was a major point that was left out of almost every major theory and represents a major flaw in Horney's theory as well. It is not known if she felt that the only time to develop neuroses was in childhood.
Horney, Rogers, and Fromm emphasized that each and every person has an idea of how and what they should be. However, this view may not be realistic or attainable. The difference between normalcy and neurosis is the ability to achieve the final goal. One example of this is the perfectionist that never feels that what they do is good enough. They will never achieve their expectations and there will always be inconsistency in what they believe they should be and what they are."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Boeree, C. G. (1997). Karen Horney: 1885-1952. Personality theories. Internet. 4 Sept. 2001. http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/horney.html. Accessed March 15, 2006.
• Horney, K. (1939). New ways in psychoanalysis. New York: Norton.
• Horney, K. (1942). The collected works of Karen Horney (volume II). New York: W.W. Norton Company.
• Horney, K. (1967). Feminine psychology, edited by H. Kelman. New York: Norton.
• Horney, K. (1945).Our Inner Conflicts, A Constructive Theory of Neurosis. New York: W. W. Norton, 1945.

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