Book
Neurosis and Human Growth: The Struggle Toward Self-Realization
Horney's last book gives the most complete statement of her theory of neurosis, built on the opposition between the real self and an idealized self. Under adverse conditions a person abandons the real self for an idealized self. From this follows the search for glory. It brings neurotic claims, the tyranny of the should, neurotic pride and self-hate, and with them alienation from the self. Horney describes three main solutions to the conflicts this produces: the expansive, the self-effacing and the resigned. They continue the moving against, toward and away from people of her earlier work. Therapy is framed as freeing the forces of self-realization.
Main ideas
- Under adverse conditions the person abandons the real self for an idealized self.
- The search for glory brings neurotic claims, the tyranny of the should, neurotic pride and self-hate.
- The outcome is alienation from the self.
- The expansive, self-effacing and resigned solutions are the main neurotic ways of dealing with inner conflict.
- Therapy aims to free the forces of self-realization.
What it shows
- 1950
Karen Horney introduced Tyranny of the should
The shoulds appear in Our Inner Conflicts as a sign of the gap between the idealized image and the actual self; Neurosis and Human Growth names them the tyranny of the should and gives them a chapter.
- 1945
Karen Horney introduced Real self
The real self is set against the idealized image in Our Inner Conflicts and becomes the centre of Neurosis and Human Growth, whose chapter on alienation from self treats neurosis as estrangement from it.
Tyranny of the should derives from Idealized image
The shoulds are the demands by which the neurotic tries to close the gap between the idealized image and the actual self.