The work of Karen Horney is relevant to the twenty-first century
problems of the psychoanalyst (Smith, 2007). Karen Horney contributed several
notable advancements to the field of psychology, particularly psychoanalysis.
Karen Horney was instrumental in the field of feminine psychology and is
considered the first feminist psychologist by some. Karen Horney was passionate
about her beliefs in psychoanalysis and was considered to be outspoken on her
beliefs. According to O’Connell (1980), she also holds “the distinction of
being the only woman whose theory is detailed in personality textbooks” (p 81).
Karen Horney was a woman who filled many roles throughout her life: daughter,
wife, mother, student, doctor, psychoanalyst, teacher, editor, and writer,
among others.
Family, Education and Early Career
Karen was the second – born child to a Norwegian Sea captain and a
Dutch – German intellectual woman. According to O’Connell (1980), Karen based
her personality theory on her childhood experiences. Karen was a very
intelligent child. Her father did not support her education; however her mother
encouraged her (O'Connell, 1980). At an early age, Karen decided to study
medicine. Karen began her study of medicine at the University of Freiburg. In
1908, Karen was the only woman to pass the preclinical examination; six men
also passed.
Karen married while at Freiburg. However, her education was
important to her so she continued studying while balancing a family (O'Connell,
1980). After the birth of her first child, Karen took her state medical
examination. Karen studied at three universities – Freiburg, Gottingen, and
Berlin – graduating from the latter. Karen continued to achieve her dreams of
higher education despite her husband’s lack of support. She obtained her
medical degree in 1915, the same year her third child was born.
Karen gained experience in several clinics and with several
professionals. She worked at the Berlin – Lankwitz Sanitarium, in a
neurological institute, and in a military neuropsychiatric hospital. She worked
in the Berlin Psychoanalytic Society under Karl Abraham.
Interest in Psychoanalysis
While many students become
conflicted with which theoretical perspective he or she will subscribe to, this
was not the case with Karen. According to her daughter, Karen knew early in her
studies that she would study psychoanalysis (Smith, 2007). When Sigmund Freud
developed his psychoanalytical theory, it was his belief that one’s behavior
was a result of the unconscious. Karen, on the other hand, rejected this
belief. Instead, she suggested that one’s social relationships, particularly
the parent/child relationship, was the driving force behind behavior (McGraw
Hill, 2011). Karen believed very strongly that one’s culture and relationships
determined behavior and personality. She believed that family was the most
important component in one’s environment, followed by peers and society. Freud
also introduced the idea that women experienced penis envy, or the unconscious
desire to be a man. Karen also rejected this idea. Instead, she suggested that
men experienced womb envy, or the envy of a woman’s primary role in creating
and sustaining life including pregnancy, nursing and motherhood (Horney, 2011).
Karen became known as a neo – Freudian psychoanalyst. She was trained in
traditional Freudian theory by Karl Abraham. She agreed with the Freudian
theory that the past is always found within the present. She rejected Freud’s
concept of oedipal complex. Many of her ideas led to a new approach to
psychoanalytic theory.
Contributions of Karen Horney
Karen
Horney as a Psychoanalyst
Karen’s
work as a psychoanalyst is usually divided into two phases. The first phase was
her early career in Germany as discussed earlier. The second phase begins when
she begins working in America. Karen came to the Chicago Institute of
Psychoanalysis to be the associate director (Horney, 2011). After two years,
she left Chicago to work in New York City. In New York City, she opened a
private practice as well as taught at the new School for Social Research. She
also worked at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute. Karen did not adhere to
the normal Freudian theories and her refusal to caused problems in the
psychoanalysis world. Her outspoken neo – Freudian beliefs caused her to lose
her position at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute (Horney, 2011). However,
she did not let this stop her. Later during the same year she helped to found the
Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis as well as the teaching
center, the American Institute for Psychoanalysis. She served as Dean of the
institute until her death. Karen was also a founder and the editor of the American Journal of Psychoanalysis.
Karen Horney developed a Theory of Neurosis. Within this theory,
Karen believed that each person had a central driving force. This driving force
was common to all people, yet it was also unique to each person (Smith, 2007).
She called this the “real self”. Horney believed that there were three versions
of the self: real, ideal and actual. The real self represents the possibilities
existing within a person. The ideal self represents the response to anxiety
within a problematic environment. The actual self represents the strengths and
weaknesses of each person. This is the Conception of Self.
Karen
Horney and Psychotherapy
As a psychotherapist, Karen put emphasis on self – growth and
realization (Smith, 2007). While psychotherapists before Karen had developed a
system that was successful, Karen wanted to improve upon it. Whereas
psychotherapists before her emphasized human relationships, she wanted to add
the improvement of relations with one’s self to psychotherapy. In her system of
psychotherapy, the patient’s motivation is a crucial variable. Karen sought to
help the patients identify the source of his or her anxiety. She also described
the therapist’s role as observation, understanding, interpretation and help
with resistances (Smith, 2007). Karen based her psychotherapy on her
understanding of the cultural and interpersonal affect on the neurosis.
Karen
Horney and Feminine Psychology
While working as a
psychoanalyst, Karen’s interest grew in female psychology. Karen said, “Like
all sciences and valuations, the psychology of women has hitherto been
considered only from the point of view of men” (Horney, 1967, p 56). Karen objected
to the development of female psychology based upon a male’s psychology. Karen
believed that society’s view of the ideals a woman should have contributed to
many females with problems. Up until this point, psychology had been developed
by men. It was men who tried to understand the female psyche and basing their
conclusions the same as they had for men. Karen desired to change this
perception. She desired to have women seen as different yet equal to men. She
concluded that the “penis envy” women felt was nothing more than being envious
of men’s success and status in society (McGraw Hill, 2011). Much of Karen’s research
and writing in the subject of feminine psychology is still prevalent today.
Karen
Horney as a Writer
Karen Horney was a “prolific” writer
and wrote about many of her theories (O'Connell, 1980). Some saw her books as
controversial, but only because they went against present – day Freudian
theory. In 1937, she wrote The Neurotic
Personality of our Time and in 1939, New
Ways in Psychoanalysis. Both of these writings stated her beliefs about
environmental and social conditions determining individual personality. In
1945, she wrote Our Inner Conflicts
and in 1950, she wrote Neurosis and Human
Growth. These writings stated that one’s neuroses were caused by
disturbances in his or her interpersonal relationships. In 1967, fifteen years
after her death, Feminine Psychology
was published. This writing was her papers written over a fourteen year period
about the psychosexual development of the female. Karen used her own personal
conflicts as a focus for her work (O'Connell, 1980). After her marriage ended, she
published six papers on marital problems in a five year span. When her children
were adolescents, she wrote papers on conflicts of raising teenagers.
Conclusion
Karen Horney was a pioneer in feminist
psychology as well as in new psychoanalytic theory. She is “unique and
unparalleled in personality theory” (O'Connell, 1980, p 91). Karen made an
impact on those she helped. In 1952, her friends and former patients suggested
opening a clinic in her honor. The Karen Horney Clinic in New York City was opened
in 1955, almost two years after her death. This clinic currently serves as a
low – cost clinic as well as a research and training center. Karen Horney
received no support from the men in her life to accomplish her education.
However, despite the lack of support, she worked hard to become a doctor and a
psychoanalyst. She broke from common Freudian theory and formed theories and
ideas that led to the advancement of psychoanalysis. Karen Horney is a true
mother of psychology and leaves behind a legacy.
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