Question

According to Horney what are the three ways of relating to others and three basic orientations toward life.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) Karen Horney’s study of psychoanalytics concluded that there are ten different neurotic needs that people tend to have. These needs are further categorised into three categories. These three categories determine an individual’s interpersonal orientation. The three categories with the neurological needs are as follows:

1. Moving towards people – These are people who tend to seek affection and approval because they recognise others as a source of their support.

1. Affection and approval – This is for acquiring the basic needs from a relationship.
2. A partner – This is the requirement of intimacy from an individual they choose to be close to.

2. Moving against people – These are people who seek to move against the people around them as they desire to achieve a sense of control to reduce any threats and the model of normality.

3. Power – These are the people who are ambitious and seek power over people.
4. Exploit and beat others – Both virtually and literally, these people choose a sadistic way to be above others but repressing them.
5. Social recognition – These people desire to be recognised by people other than their close circle of family and friends.
6. Personal admiration – These are the people who wish to have a boost in their self-esteem by admiration about their personal traits.

3. Moving away from people – These are people who tend to move away from people as they feel more secure in solitude.

7. Self-sufficiency and independence – These are the people who do not depend on the approval or affection of others to know their flaws and merits. These are people who understand their value.
8. Need for perfection – These are people who choose to perfect themselves but sometimes even to a neurotic level.
1. Restrict themselves – These are people who feel guilty and undeserving of better things in life and hence restrict themselves from rewards. They also hide their talents under modesty.