Sigmund Freud had many disciples with regard to his theories of human development, among them no illustrious psychoanalytic theorists than Alfred Adler and Karl Jung. Also among his disciples in her early career was Karen Horney. Freud’s theory of psychological development is closely aligned with sexually and is based on instinctual rather than emotional conflicts from interpersonal relationships. Horney, on the other hand, “founded a neo-Freudian school of psychoanalysis based on the conclusion that neuroses are the result of emotional conflicts arising from childhood experiences and later disturbances in interpersonal relationships. Horney believed that such disturbances are conditioned to a large extent by the society in which an individual lives rather than solely by the instinctual drives postulated by Freud” (Karen 1). Horney also broke from Freud’s pessimistic view of humanity. She viewed individuals as being born with equal potential for healthy development. However, she felt insecurities developed from parent-child interaction. Basic anxiety in her view equated with apprehension and fear of the outside world, the fear of being helpless and alone in an often hostile world. While Freud believed neuroses developed from the unsuccessful resolution of his psychosexual stages of development, particularly the Oedipus conflict, Horney argued neuroses develop from maladjustment resulting from interpersonal conflicts. Horney also completely rejects Freud’s theory of female psychology, particularly his theory regarding penis envy. This analysis will examine the theories of personality formation developed by both Freud and Horney, illustrating where Horney either extended concepts of Freud or completely rejected them in favor of her own formulations.
Freud’s theory of childhood development and later adult personality and function are rooted in his concept that development progresses from the unconscious, irratio...