Karen Horney - Life and Theory
karen horney:
LIFE & PERSONALITY THEORY
___________________
A Paper
Presented to
Dr. Dickens
Dallas Theological Seminary
___________________
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course
BC 205 Personality Theory
___________________
by
Ashley Keith
May 2011
Box #759
karen horney: Life & Personality theory
Karen Horney’s childhood and adult life have been reflected in much of her work; her personality theory is not separate from her own personal life experiences. The purpose of this study is to exemplify Karen’s personal life, and to demonstrate how her life influenced her personality theory and her profession.
Karen Horney was born on September 16th, 1885 to Clotilde and Berndt Wackels Danielson. Her parents were polar opposites. Horney 's father, Berndt, was known as a God-fearing fundamentalist who believed that women were inferior to men. He was an authoritarian, and was a harsh disciplinarian. It is common knowledge that he sometimes threw the Bible at his wife and kids in fits of anger. Horney developed a negative attitude towards religion, and a skepticism towards authority figures, that was to manifest itself later in life. Her mother, Clotilde, was considered to be more polished and polite than her father, possibly more easy-going. Her mother was nineteen years younger than her father.
Karen had a tender yet powerful emotional relationship with her brother. He was four years older, and she always believed her father favored him more than her. Karen was infatuated with her brother, and when her overwhelming attention began to bother him, he pushed her away. This rejection had a significant effect on young Karen’s emotional wellbeing, and it led to her becoming deeply depressed. She always felt that she was treated differently than her brother. She wondered if it was because he was male gender and different physically or if people simply felt different about boys and girls. She also questioned if males
LIFE & PERSONALITY THEORY
___________________
A Paper
Presented to
Dr. Dickens
Dallas Theological Seminary
___________________
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course
BC 205 Personality Theory
___________________
by
Ashley Keith
May 2011
Box #759
karen horney: Life & Personality theory
Karen Horney’s childhood and adult life have been reflected in much of her work; her personality theory is not separate from her own personal life experiences. The purpose of this study is to exemplify Karen’s personal life, and to demonstrate how her life influenced her personality theory and her profession.
Karen Horney was born on September 16th, 1885 to Clotilde and Berndt Wackels Danielson. Her parents were polar opposites. Horney 's father, Berndt, was known as a God-fearing fundamentalist who believed that women were inferior to men. He was an authoritarian, and was a harsh disciplinarian. It is common knowledge that he sometimes threw the Bible at his wife and kids in fits of anger. Horney developed a negative attitude towards religion, and a skepticism towards authority figures, that was to manifest itself later in life. Her mother, Clotilde, was considered to be more polished and polite than her father, possibly more easy-going. Her mother was nineteen years younger than her father.
Karen had a tender yet powerful emotional relationship with her brother. He was four years older, and she always believed her father favored him more than her. Karen was infatuated with her brother, and when her overwhelming attention began to bother him, he pushed her away. This rejection had a significant effect on young Karen’s emotional wellbeing, and it led to her becoming deeply depressed. She always felt that she was treated differently than her brother. She wondered if it was because he was male gender and different physically or if people simply felt different about boys and girls. She also questioned if males
Bibliography: Rubins, Jack L. Karen Horney: Gentle Rebel of Psychoanalysis, New York: The Dial Press, 1978. Boeree, Dr. C. George, Karen Horney, C. George Boeree, 2006, http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/horney.html, (Retrieved April 30th, 2011). Personality Synopsis: Psychodynamic and Neo-Freudian Theories, AllPsych and Heffner Media Group, Inc. 2003, http://allpsych.com/personaliysynopsis/horney.html, (Retrieved April 30th, 2011). [ 3 ]. Boeree, Dr. C. George, Karen Horney, C. George Boeree, 2006, http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/horney.html, (retrieved April 30th, 2001). [ 6 ]. Rubins, Jack L. Karen Horney: Gentle Rebel of Psychoanalysis, New York: The Dial Press, 1978, 172. [ 7 ]. Rubins, Jack L. Karen Horney: Gentle Rebel of Psychoanalysis, New York: The Dial Press, 1978, 93. [ 10 ]. Boeree, Dr. C. George, Karen Horney, C. George Boeree, 2006, http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/horney.html, (retrieved April 30th, 2001). [ 12 ]. Rubins, Jack L. Karen Horney: Gentle Rebel of Psychoanalysis, New York: The Dial Press, 1978, 190. [ 13 ]. Boeree, Dr. C. George, Karen Horney, C. George Boeree, 2006, http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/horney.html, (retrieved April 30th, 2001). [ 14 ]. Boeree, Dr. C. George, Karen Horney, C. George Boeree, 2006, http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/horney.html, (retrieved April 30th, 2001). [ 15 ]. Rubins, Jack L. Karen Horney: Gentle Rebel of Psychoanalysis, New York: The Dial Press, 1978, 23. [ 16 ]. Personality Synopsis: Psychodynamic and Neo-Freudian Theories, AllPsych and Heffner Media Group, Inc. 2003, http://allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/horney.html, (retrieved April 30, 2011). [ 17 ]. Personality Synopsis: Psychodynamic and Neo-Freudian Theories, AllPsych and Heffner Media Group, Inc. 2003, http://allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/horney.html, (retrieved April 30, 2011).