Our Inner Conflicts by Karen Horney

In this episode on the seminal psychoanalyst Karen Horney, Alex and Steven explore her theory on the nature of neurosis and how an individual can potentially overcome their inner conflicts. Particular topics they examine include: How common are these inner conflicts, as Horney defines them?; What does Horney mean by the 'basic conflict' and what is its role in the creation of neurosis?; What part does the idealised self and the defence mechanism of externalisation play in the maintenance and worsening of a neurosis?; Why Horney is optimistic about a resolution to our inner conflicts.

Further Information:

• Her two main theoretical works, Neurosis and Human Growth and Our Inner Conflicts, can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neurosis-Human-Growth-Self-Realization-Self-realization/dp/0393307751/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1639689953&refinements=p_27%3Akaren+horney&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1 and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Inner-Conflicts-Constructive-Neurosis/dp/0393309401/ref=sr_1_4?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1639690038&refinements=p_27%3Akaren+horney&s=books&sr=1-4&unfiltered=1
• Bernard J Paris wrote an excellent biography of Karen Horney: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Karen-Horney-Psychoanalysts-Search-Self-understanding/dp/0300059566/ref=sr_1_8?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=Karen+Horney&qid=1639690063&s=books&sr=1-8&unfiltered=1
• Paris also wrote a wonderful Horneyian analysis of Shakespeare's works called Bargains with Fate: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bargains-Fate-Psychological-Conflicts-Shakespeare/dp/1412808731/ref=sr_1_8?qid=1639690177&refinements=p_27%3ABernard+J+Paris&s=books&sr=1-8&text=Bernard+J+Paris
• I. Theodore Rubin wrote a Horney-inspired account of how self-hate arises and the ways in which compassion can be the antidote: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Compassion-Self-Hate-I-Rubin-Theodore/dp/0684841991/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1639690347&refinements=p_28%3Acompassion+and+self-hate&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
• A YouTube presentation on how Horney's theory can impact our understanding of culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlEBIg2ft9o