Keren Horney

Keren Horney

Topic

Karen Horney is the second most influential person in the field of psychology. The first position is maintained to date by Sigmund Freud. Many theories on psychotherapy and psychoanalysis that have formed the basis of advanced and modern psychology today have been put forth by Karen Horney. Most of these theories relate to relationships and motivation (Eckardt, 2005). These are two sub areas in psychology that interest me too. Hence, the selection to work on Karen Horney. These theories are quite controversial in nature. The most interesting ideas given by the psychologists relate to the influence of environment on personality, intersubjectivity, attachment and the psychology of self.

For instance, many of the problems in the external environment and the way we give meaning to the world around us lead to anxiety. Anxiety is one of the most prevalent psychological problems in both the developed as well as developing countries and is explained very well by Karen and her contemporaries. Anxiety can be mediated and can also be engendered. This depends on the person's own response to situations that are anxiety in nature and the role played by the family members of the person. Most of Horney's work may be regarded as the departure from Freudian concepts and theories. It is this work done by the woman that really interests me.

Thesis

Karen Horney has given some of the most eye opening concepts in psychology. Her work is a masterpiece in that it is truly wisdom of a lifetime collected in mere sentence or two. Not only the life of the woman is an inspiration for many, but also her work has led to the development of many modern concepts in psychology. In particular, her work on personality theories and feminine psychology are worth reading. In the eyes of the psychotherapist, ...