Ahfad University for Women

Personality Theories
The Neo-Freudians Horneys Social Psychological Viewpoint
Sana M. Abasher

Contents of the lect.

The Neo-Freudians Basic Assumptions of Horney The Nature of Personality Applications of Horneys Social Psychological

Viewpoint

Neo-Freudians
Neo-Freudians proposed viewpoints of personality as an alternative and extension to many of Freud ideas. They shifted from intrapsychic emphasis (conflict within the self) to a more interpersonal emphasis (relationship bet. People) Emphasis more on the conscious level operation

in personality.

Basic Assumptions of Horney

Motivational Nature of personality - Indiv. Search for a sense of security in the world as the primary motivational force in personality. Social Nature of Early childhood - Agreed with Freud that many emotional

problems can be traced back to early childhood.

- But these problems did not result from

unsuccessful resolution of devel. stages

- She assumed that the nature of early relationship bet. child and parent was very important in determining personality maladjustment in adult. Cultural Nature of personality - Disagree with Freud view of female personality desire to be like men (i.e. Penis envy) - Both men and women are motivated by desire to seek security.

- Culture gave men more active role in determining their security thats why women wanted to be like men. - If culture is different regarding women then they will not want to be like men. - She emphasized specific cultural differences to

account for personality development not

unconscious desires.

Basic Concepts of Horneys

Basic Hostility

- Two powerful needs children demonstrate, those

are; safety and satisfaction.

- Depending on others for these needs creates

feelings of insecurity in children.

 If parents respond with love & affection, the child perceive envir. As safe and secure. If parents respond with lack of affection or emotional concern, child perceive envir. As threatening and insecure. Hence child develop feelings of basic hostility toward the parents.

Basic Hostility (B. H.) Is the sense of anger and betrayal the child feels toward parents who are not helping to create a secure envir. Its an inevitable experience for the child, since no parents can be satisfying. In dealing with such feeling, child may repress them and express overtly false feelings of affection toward the parents so they will not make the situation worse.

 Basic Anxiety (B. A.) - Refer to feelings of insecurity, insignificance, powerlessness, inferiority, and hopelessness in a social envir. that an indiv. feels is full of hostility, betrayal and unfaithfulness. - B. A. is an expanded sense of basic hostility being generalized from parents to other people. (believing that people can not be trusted hence, a

person may become reluctant to fall in love)

Neurotic Trends (N.T.)

- N. T. Are irrational needs and desires developed by the indiv. in trying to achieve a sense of security. - Created by intense feelings of basic anxiety. - Its logic in that if the specific need is fulfilled, then the indiv. will feel safe and secure. - Its N. because they represent unrealistic or irrational solutions to the problem of achieving psychological security.

 Example of N. T. is Morbid dependency. M. D. Is the neurotic tendency to seek and

maintain affection through involvement in

exploitative or manipulative relationships.

It has its origin from dysfunctional families

where children sacrifice their own needs, desires

and expectation to obtain affection from parents.

 Codependency describes the tendency of adults who were the children or spouses of alcoholics to find themselves in other dysfunctional relationships, which they make personal sacrifice in order to maintain. Research finding suggest that high level of emotional dependency in an abused partner may reduce the likelihood that the victimized person will terminate the relationship.

Horneys Concepts Indiv. Search for Security Basic Hostility

(irrational needs & desire)
Generalized

basic Anxiety

Neurotic Trend
Coping Strategies

Toward

Against

Away

Strategies to Achieve Social Security

Horney identified three interpersonal coping strategies C. S. in fulfilling N. T. & and minimizing B. A. (seeking social security) The strategies are inflexible and have limited effect. These strategies are; moving toward people, moving against people, and moving away from people

 Moving toward People

- Involves believing that if you go along with

people & give them what they want, they will give
you love and sense of affection and approval.

(by going along and catering the needs of abusive

husband, the wife hope he will not abuse her and

the children)

 Moving Against People - Involve an interaction characterised by aggressiveness, hostility and exploitation. - By taking advantage of others; indiv. is able to achieve the exaggerated need for power, exploitation of others, social recognition and prestige, personal admiration and achievement. (ex. The corrupt government official who take from

others their personal gain)

Moving Away from People - Its characterized by withdrawing or detaching oneself from others by retreating into own world. - Indiv. achieves a sense of self-sufficiency, and independence while gaining protection against attacks and hurt from others. - (ex. Terminating a relationship each time feel they are falling in love)
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Healthy Vs Maladaptive Strategies

B. A. Exist within all of us. Hence every one use interpersonal coping strategies C. S. There is a distinction bet. Healthy and

maladaptive uses of C. S.
The differences are in the degree, flexible and

emotionality of their use.

Healthy person use all three C. S. Depending on:

- Nature of the relationship (child, boss, spouse) - Type of situation (physically dangerous)

- Type of interaction (business, social, family)

Ex. Person may go along (move toward) with boss.

Take a firm stand (move against) when dealing

with a boss over demands. And withdrawal (move away) from potential physical argument.

 Maladaptive use of the three C. S. Involves the exclusive use of one S. Regardless of the nature and type of the relationship. Ex. When a wife tolerate an abusive husband beh. And does not take any action of moving away but only use moving toward C. S.

The Real Self & the Idealized Self

Horney made a distinction bet. The real self and the idealized self. The real self is what people believes is true and unique about their own self. (involve strength & weakness, need & desire) The idealized self is a the indiv. perception of how s/he would like to be. (need to be more independent, powerful, responsible) The greater the degree of overlap bet. the two the greater the degree of personality adjustment.

Real Self & Idealized Self

Successful Personality

Unsuccessful

Personality

Severe

Personality

Ideal Self

Maladjustment

Application of Horney Social Psychological Viewpoint

Horney Psychotherapy (Self-analysis) basic goals are to: - Increase sense of security - Decrease maladaptive use of interpersonal C. S. - Reach to considerable overlap between the real self and the idealized self

Self-Analysis
Self-analysis is a process by which an indiv. Gaining acceptance of real self through; - Achieving Freedom of Expression - Learning from Freedom of Expression - Using Freedom of Expression to improve Interpersonal Relationship

Thanks for listening