Karen Horney

Definition

Karen Horney was a German psychoanalyst who postulated that social and cultural conditions, particularly childhood experiences, have a powerful effect on later personality. She is also known for her theories on neurosis and feminine psychology.

Related terms

Neurosis: A term popularized by Horney referring to mental disorders characterized by anxiety and/or obsessive thoughts but without any break from reality.

Basic Anxiety: According to Horney, this is the anxiety which occurs due to various interpersonal relationships; it's the feeling of being isolated and helpless in a potentially hostile world.

Feminine Psychology: This is Horney's counter-theory to Freud's concept of penis envy. She proposed womb envy, suggesting that men experience feelings of inferiority because they cannot give birth.