A student compares Karen Horney's theory with Freud's. Which of the following statements about Horney's views are correct?
(A) She took a more optimistic view of human life, with emphasis on human growth and self-actualisation.
(B) She held that women were more likely to be affected by biological factors than by social and cultural factors.
(C) She argued that psychological disorders were caused by disturbed interpersonal relationship during childhood.
(D) A child whose parents are indifferent and erratic first develops basic hostility, which then produces basic anxiety.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → A and C only
(A) She took a more optimistic view of human life, with emphasis on human growth and self-actualisation. — Correct. Horney moved away from Freud's gloomy picture. She stressed growth and self-actualisation, which is why her heading is "Optimism".
(B) She held that women were more likely to be affected by biological factors than by social and cultural factors. — Incorrect. This is reversed. Horney said women were more affected by social and cultural factors than by biological ones, and she rejected Freud's view of women as inferior.
(C) She argued that psychological disorders were caused by disturbed interpersonal relationship during childhood. — Correct. For Horney, the roots of psychological disorders lie in disturbed relationships in childhood, mainly with parents.
(D) A child whose parents are indifferent and erratic first develops basic hostility, which then produces basic anxiety. — Incorrect. The order is reversed. Indifferent, erratic parents make the child insecure, so basic anxiety comes first; deep resentment toward parents, or basic hostility, grows out of that anxiety.
NCERT (2026-27): “Karen Horney : Optimism “Horney’s major contribution lies in her challenge to Freud’s treatment of women as inferior. According to her, each sex has attributes to be admired by the other, and neither sex can be viewed as superior or inferior. She countered that women were more likely to be affected by social and cultural factors than by biological factors. She argued that psychological disorders were caused by disturbed interpersonal relationship during childhood. When parents’ behaviour toward a child is indifferent, discouraging, and erratic, the child feels insecure and a feeling called basic anxiety results. Deep resentment toward parents or basic hostility occurs due to this anxiety. …” |