Neo-Freudianism
Karen Horney and Alfred Adler formed the Neo-Freudian discipline.
Horney on many issues agreed with Freud’s theories but was also critical of him on some of his key beliefs.
Horney did not believe sex and aggression were the primary constituents in determining personality and Freud’s belief on “penis envy”. She did agree that in some cases this belief is true but that “womb envy” occurs just as much in men.
Karen believed that men were envious of a woman’s ability to bear a child and that men compensated for this by striving for success. She believed another reason for this envy is due to woman fulfilling their role in society by simply “being” whereas men fulfill their manhood in relation to their ability to provide and succeed.
Horney placed less emphasis on the male organ and in turn had a more balance view. Horney also had different views on the Oedipal Complex of the sexual elements, believing that anxiety causes a child to cling to one parent and jealousy of the other. That resulted from a disturbance in the parent-child relationship.
Horney changed the Freudian thought with a holistic and humanistic view of the individual psyche. This view placed more emphasis on social and cultural differences worldwide.
