PSY3300 Personality: Karen Horney's Theory of Neurosis and Self

This discussion post analyzes Karen Horney's theory of personality, focusing on the concepts of the real self and the idealized self, and the conflicts that arise between them. The assignment explores seven adjustment devices, such as blind spots and compartmentalization, providing examples of their use. It compares Horney's theory with Freud's, highlighting similarities and differences, particularly regarding 'womb envy.' The post then explains how individuals might use adjustment techniques based on Horney's ten neurotic needs and how these techniques can be either neurotic or healthy. The assignment concludes by explaining how Horney's theory helps individuals manage the conflict between their real and idealized selves and provides examples of how selected devices can be applied. References to relevant literature are also provided.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
PSY3300 PERSONALITY W2 DISCUSSION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1PSYCHOLOGY
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.
Blind Spots – My grandfather used to implement this device in almost every aspect of
his life. In my experience, his traditional and orthodox beliefs about the negative aspects of
video game culture prevented him from complying with contemporary belief systems and
practices of video gaming and the e-sports industry. Despite providing ample evidence from
contemporary practices and literatures, it was difficult to make him believe otherwise.
Compartmentalization – One of my best friends lost his elder brother who was serving
in the military and being very close to him, it was important for him to not let his emotions
and feeling cloud his daily lifestyle. He told me of a ‘mental box’ technique that he follows
where he stores all his griefs, memories and emotions regarding his brother and ‘puts the box
away’ so that it cannot affect his daily life significantly. This is an example where he uses
compartmentalization as a device to cope with his issues.

2PSYCHOLOGY
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.
Differences: Freud argued about the effect of ‘Penis envy’ which makes women feel
that they are lacking something that the men have. Horney countered this by introducing the
concept of ‘Womb envy’ where men feel insecure about their inability to procreate and mask
their feelings by striving for power and success (Grossman, 1986).
Secondly Freud was of the opinion that both genders had innate biological differences
that also differentiates their personality. In contrast, Horney postulated that socio-culturally,
both genders were same once the biological restrictions were removed, which later fueled the
progressive movement of gender equality (Grossman, 1986).
Similarities: Despite having key contrasts with the ideas of Freud, Horney identified
and correlated with the perceptive insights of Freud. She also complied with most of Freud’s
observations and differed only on the aspect of their validity (Westkott, 1986).
Using Horney's theory, attempt to explain why someone might use the major
adjustment techniques the way they do.
In her book Self-Analysis (1942), Horney proposed ten significant neurotic needs that
people use to make adjustments in their lifestyle. People might use those techniques in order
to sort out a particular aspect of their life that they are unable to deal with (e.g. coping with
abandonment issues by being reliant upon a partner). These techniques are mostly
implemented as short term coping mechanisms but their intensity might render a person
neurotic.

3PSYCHOLOGY
Explain Horney's theory with reference to people in general?
Horney’s theory states that the basic needs of a person that gives rise to issues with
anxiety can be countered by the use of certain strategies for coping, however overusing of
those strategies and techniques can render them the appearance of a life need (Horney, 2013).
People in general also suffer from certain daily issues for which they implement certain
strategies. Sometimes overdependence on those strategies (Horney, 2013) can turn a person
neurotic (e.g. overuse of recreational drugs can make a person dependent on them for
survival).
How does Horney's theory help an individual in managing the conflict between his real
self and idealized self?
Horney’s theory distinguishes the idealized self from the real self by rendering it the
nature of an imaginary concoction that a person may refer to as a standard (Horney, 2013).
The realization that the idealized self is merely a framework for making micro adjustments in
personality types can help a person identify the contrast well and sort the conflict between his
real and idealized self.
How are the uses of each of the selected devices in the adjustment techniques considered
either neurotic or healthy?
 Blind spots – Using this device as a balance between accepting everything and critical
analysis can be healthy but to use it to live in complete denial of everything can be
neurotic.
 Compartmentalization – can be used healthily to maintain life balance but can be
neurotic if used self-induce reclusion.

4PSYCHOLOGY
 Rationalization – can be healthy if used to detach from anxiety inducing situations but
can be neurotic if overused as an escape mechanism.
 Excessive control – can be healthy if used for filtering toxic emotions but can be
neurotic if used to detach oneself completely.
 Arbitrary rightness – can be healthy if used as a tool to trim down irrelevant and
unnecessary information input but can be neurotic if overuse starts to cloud the ability
of critical judgement.
 Elusiveness – healthy uses are low for this one, using it as a self-reflective and
questioning tool being one, but can be highly neurotic if it induces self –identity
issues.
 Cynicism – can be healthy by providing immunity to false propositions but can be
neurotic in social circumstances by eliminating the ability of social acceptance and
compliance.

5PSYCHOLOGY
References
Grossman, W. I. (1986). Freud and Horney. A Study of Psychoanalytic Models via the
Analysis of a Controversy. Psychoanalysis: The science of mental conflict, 65-88.
Horney, K. (2013). Neurosis and human growth: The struggle toward self-realization.
Routledge.
Horney, K. (2013). Our inner conflicts: A constructive theory of neurosis. Routledge.
Westkott, M. (1986). The feminist legacy of Karen Horney (p. 66). New Haven, CT: Yale
University Press.