Horney’s Idea of the Real and Idealized Self Horney

Horney’s Idea of the Real and Idealized Self Horney

Horney’s Idea of the Real and Idealized Self

Horney talks about a real self and an idealized self. Those who live in accordance with their real self are considered healthy, while those who live in accordance with their idealized self are considered neurotic. There is conflict between the real self and idealized self for everyone and it is more extreme for those who are neurotic. Horney talks about seven devices that people use to deal with these conflicts: blind spots, compartmentalization, rationalization, excessive control, arbitrary rightness, elusiveness, and cynicism.

Based on your readings about Karen Horney’s approach to personality development, answer the following:

Give an example of at least two devices you have seen someone use from the given list.
Horney has been criticized and praised for elaborating on Freud’s theory by adding feminine components. How is her theory similar to and different from Freud’s theory of personality? Identify at least two similarities and differences.
Using Horney’s theory, attempt to explain why someone might use the major adjustment techniques the way they do.

Solution Preview

Real and Idealized Self

One of the most common devices used as a tool for dealing with conflict between the idealized and real self is the blind spot. In particular, I have observed students dismiss their rest results indicating that they may not have read about some of the concepts included in the test, primarily because they did not perform as expected.

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