Transcript Neofreudians: Part II

Neofreudians: Part II
Erik Erikson & Karen Horney
Erik Erikson: 1902-1994
Born to a Jewish single mother (his Danish father
left before he was born).
Erikson never identified himself as Danish
(although he looked Danish).
He studied art in his youth & met his wife, Joan
Serson, an aspiring psychoanalytic.
Anna Freud analyzed him & invited him to do
psychoanalysis.
Biography contd.
Erikson left Germany in 1933, to go to
Denmark, followed by the US.
Although he didn’t have a college degree,
he became a child analyst & taught at
Harvard (worked with Henry Murray).
Later he became a professor at the
University of California at Berkeley. He
worked until well in his 80s.
Erikson’s Psychosocial theory
According to Erikson, our personality is developed
based on our experiences in our social settings.
He argued the ego is concerned with interpersonal
concerns as well as biological drives.
The driving force for our development is social
(influences, interactions).
Erikson quote
“Personality…can be said to develop
according to steps determined in the
human organism’s readiness to be driven
toward, to be aware of, and to interact with
a widening radius of significant
individuals and institutions (page 93).”
Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages
 Stage
I: Trust Vs. Mistrust (0-1 yr.)

As infants if our basic needs (food, shelter,
caring) are met, we learn to trust our parents &
our situation.

If our needs aren’t met, we begin to mistrust the
intentions of others. Some mistrust is inevitable.
Trust Vs. Mistrust (contd.)
In a healthy resolution of this conflict, trust
will prevail.
Erikson argues that the ability to trust (be
vulnerable to others) is an important
quality that contributes to adjustment &
happiness.
Stage 2: Autonomy Vs. Shame &
Doubt (2-3 yrs)

Toddlers need to experiment with their surroundings
to develop a sense of independence.

Toddlers will need the support of their parents in
exploring their world in order for autonomy to
develop.

If autonomy isn’t achieved,
child will feel shame.

Note: a small degree of shame & doubt is good for
humility.
Stage 3: Initiative Vs. Guilt (4-5 yrs.)

The child needs to learn how to approach
situations & what the consequences of such
actions will be (often through play).

The child identifies himself/herself based on the
child’s sex & interactions with parents.

Superego develops during this stage.

If the stage is resolved, the child develops more
initiative than guilt.
Stage 4: Industry Vs. Inferiority
(6-12)

The child must learn to be productive &
succeed in tasks he or she sets out to do.

Through diligence & hard-work, the child
gains a sense of satisfaction & industry.

If the child feels like he/she cannot
successfully produce or is unrecognized
for producing inferiority will prevail.
Stage 5: Identity Vs. Identity
Confusion (13-20s)
Adolescents transition from childhood to
adulthood.


During this time, the adolescent needs to determine
what his/her identity will be (job, family).

Identity confusion occurs if the adolescent can’t
develop a coherent identity.

A negative identity-based on undesirable roles in
society (juvenile delinquent).
Stage 6: Intimacy Vs. Isolation
(20s-30s)

Person needs to establish close relationships with
others (friends, lovers, family).

Intimacy is psychological, not sexual.

If person doesn’t not develop close personal
relationships with others, they may become
isolated.
Stage 7: Generativity Vs. Stagnation
(Mid adulthood)

The adult who is generative—is involved in their
work roles & is concerned with the growth of
others.

These people—give back to society through their
efforts (parents, teachers, mentors).

Stagnation occurs when a person it not able to be
involved in caring for others.
Stage 8: Integrity Vs. Despair (late
adulthood)

Person needs to feel they accomplished
something in life.

Was the person’s life meaningful? Those
that feel they achieved their goals, develop
integrity.

Those who failed to achieve their goals
experience despair.
Karen Horney (1885-1952)

Born to a Norwegian Sea Captain & his wife.

Horney’s father was a strict religious zealout
(Lutheran) who made life unpleasant for Karen’s
family.

Karen criticized her religion & father’s views
which she saw as hypocritical.

Horney earned a degree from the University of
Freiburgh in 1906 (1 of 58 women).
Biographical

Horney married Oskar in 1909 & moved
to Berlin to continue her medical studies.

Horney underwent psychoanalysis, &
decided to make it her profession.

Horney soon published several papers
criticizing Freud’s views of women.
Horney--overview

The unconscious has a strong influence on
personality development.

However, sexual conflict does not drive
personality. Instead, unresolved interpersonal
issues, do!!!!

Like Freud, she agreed that these conflicts
occurred during childhood (through parent-child
interactions).

Horney emphasized importance of cultural forces,
not anatomy on personality differences in men &
women.
Basic Anxiety & Basic Hostility

A child reared with inadequate parenting feels
helpless & alone in the world. This is basic
anxiety.

Parental neglect & rejection—produce anger
which leads to basic hostility.

This hostility cannot be expressed (fear of
retribution/loss of love) & becomes repressed.

This is the breeding ground for neurosis.
Three Interpersonal Orientations

Healthy people are flexible in how they interact
with others.

Neurotics are imbalanced in their interpersonal
behavior.

Horney argued these neurotics could be
categorized by their emphasis on moving
toward people, moving against people, or
moving away from people.

These may serve as basic defense mechanisms.
Have you met this person?

When Jane first meets people she comes
across as friendly & warm. She’s always
doing things for others, quick to pass
along a compliment. But soon her
attention turns into demands. She can’t
stand to be alone, can’t accept the idea that
partners or friends would want to do
anything without her. Her relationships
never work out, yet she falls in love almost
as soon as she meets the next man.
Moving Toward People: The SelfEffacing Solution

These people have overwhelming need for love
from others. Emphasize their helplessness.

These people become dependent on others,
seeing others as superior to themselves.

Paradox—while these people desperately want
love, they are incapable of having a genuinely
loving relationship.

Instead, these folks cling to others, demanding
love & affection, they can’t return.
Have you met this person?

Jack is disliked by almost everyone he meets.
Few people escape his sarcastic, biting
comments. He seems to hold everyone he
encounters with contempt. He is successful in
his field of business, but has done so by stepping
on others to get what he wants. He’s such a
narcissist that everything has to be about him or
he’s unhappy and miserable. He’s the poster
child for Machiavellianism.
Moving against People: The
Expansive Solution

These people need power over others to feel
good about themselves.

These folks get a fleeting sense of security from
pushing others around, but have no real
friendships.

It is important that this person show mastery in
tasks over others & humiliate others before they
themselves can be humiliated.
Have you met this person?

Jen works as an accountant, quietly
tabulating figures in her office. She rarely
socializes with other people who work for
the same firm; so now most of them have
stopped asking her to join them. She has
few friends and spends most of her
evenings by herself with her cat.
Moving away from People: The
Resignation Solution

These individuals withdrawal from others &
strive for self-sufficiency & independence.

They detach from others & seek jobs where
there is little interaction with others.

In general they avoid affection, love, or
friendship. They are afraid that emotional
attachment will lead to pain & rejection.
.
Narcissism

If an individual is unsure of his/her self-worth,
they may attempt to “achieve” worthiness by
using one of Horney’s orientations.

Appearing more powerful, independent, or
loved, gives the person the illusion they have
personal worth.

Narcissism—malignant self-focus & selfadmiration that results in the person alienating
everyone else (NPD).
Parental behavior and personality

Horney argued that warm, affectionate, & loving
parents rear healthy well-adjusted children.

Parents who are controlling, neglectful, or cold
rear children who have basic anxiety &
neuroticism.

There is some support for Horney’s theory.
McCrae & Costa (1988) found that adults who
reported that their parents had been rejecting
were higher in neuroticism.
What is infant attachment?

Infants develop strong affectionate ties
with their caregivers (usually mother).

This bond ensures our survival

If we have loving parents, we form secure
attachments by the time we are 6-monthsold.
How attachment evolves

1. Preattachment phase (0—2 mos.) smiling,
crying, & eye-contact with caregiver facilitate
newborn closeness to humans.

2. Attachment-in-the-making phase (2-7mos.)
Babies smile, laugh, & babble more to mom than
strangers.

3. Clear-cut phase of attachment (7-24 mos)
Attachment to familiar caregiver is present.
Separation anxiety occurs when caregiver leaves.

4. Goal-corrected partnership (24 mos.+)
Separation anxiety begins to wane.
Types of Attachment

1. Secure Attachment – parent is secure
base. Child cries when parent is gone, & is
comforted when parent returns.

2. Insecure-Avoidant attachment –
Infants are unresponsive to parent when
present & unaffected when parent leaves.
They often avoid the parent when parent
greets them.
3. Insecure-Resistance attachment:

Infants seek closeness with parent before
parent leaves & shows anger responses
when parent returns. Infants are hard to
comfort while being held.

4. Insecure-Disorganized attachment –
Infant is confused & shows contradictory
behaviors when parent returns (flat affect).
Feminine Psychology

Horney argued against Freud’s obviously
negative views of women.

Freud argued that the essence of female
development is found in the concept of penis
envy.

Horney argued -men suffer from womb envy—
the desire to carry & deliver children.

Horney argued men compensate for this inability
through achievements in work.