Teaching and Learning Activity

MEMORANDUM

Module: Psychology 2A (HPSY231-1)

Week number (Date): 4 (14 March 2024)
Unit covered: Unit 4 – Chapter 6

Instructions:
Last week’s activity (Activity 4) was based on Chapter 6 of the
prescribed courseware for this module.

Below are the suggested solutions for that activity.

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To enhance your learning experience, watch the following YouTube video titled ‘Karen
Horney’s Psychoanalytic Social Theory: Key Concepts’.
Karen Horney’s Psychoanalytic Social Theory: Key Concepts [Video]. YouTube.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWMvEzHLs7w. [Accessed 19
February 2024]

Question 1
Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow:

Nolu grew up in an abusive home, where her father constantly berated her mother.
She also noticed that her mother never stood up for herself and would often catch her
mother crying in their bedroom. Nolu sometimes tried to intervene when her parents
argued and tended to please people. When Nolu started dating, she noticed that she
dated men who had similar traits and behaviour to that of her father and accepted the
ill-treatment she received from them. Instead of standing up for herself by setting
boundaries, she felt like she needed to help her partners through it and tried to
empathise with them. After years of experiencing this type of relationship, she fell into
depression and realised that she had allowed everyone in her life to walk over her.

1.1 Horney’s theory of development is understood to be an optimistic view of human

beings.

• Discuss Horney’s theory of development.

• Evaluate Nolu’s behaviour in the case study and explain how Horney would
account for and provide a possible solution for her behaviour and development.

Solution: Unit 3, Chapter 6, p. 154 – 155

- Use the rubric to guide you.
- A sample answer has been provided.

Suggested mark allocation

0–1 2–4 5–7 8–9 10

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 An excellent
discussion
A good
provided.
discussion
Minimal Average
provided.
discussion discussion Excellent
provided. provided. information
Sufficient
about the
information
Irrelevant More following:
about the
information information Discussion of
following:
needed about needed about theory.
Discussion of
the following: the following: Application of
theory.
Application of Discussion of theory in
No details Application of
theory in theory. relation to the
provided. theory in
relation to the Application of case study.
relation to the
Discussion on case study. theory in Self-reflection of
OR case study.
Horney’s Self-reflection of relation to the theory in
Self-reflection of
optimistic view theory in case study. relation to life
No theory in
of humanity relation to life Self-reflection of experiences,
relevant relation to life
experiences, theory in challenges, and
information experiences,
challenges, and relation to life aspirations.
provided. challenges, and
aspirations. experiences,
aspirations.
challenges, and
aspirations. The
Discussion does discussion
The discussion
not appear The discussion explicitly aligns
is aligned to the
informed by the somewhat to the content
content being
prescribed aligned to the being assessed.
assessed.
textbook. content being
assessed. The discussion
Could use some
is presented in a
work.
coherent
manner.

Solution: Unit 4, Chapter 4, p. 156 – 157

• Since Horney’s theory was developed largely in an attempt to understand the
neurotic personality, it is impossible to discuss her theoretical views without
referring to the neurotic personality.
• Horney’s views regarding personality and psychotherapy are based on the
supposition that people have an inherent drive and capacity to grow and realise
their potential to the fullest.
• Like Adler, and unlike Freud, she believes that people’s inherent nature is
constructive.

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• Horney (1950:15) maintains that this belief does not imply that people are
essentially good, presupposing a given knowledge about good and bad, but that
people by their own accord would strive toward self-realisation.
• This drive can be inhibited by unhealthy relationships with self or others, and its
absence may lead to sickness and even death. Horney thus proceeds from an
optimistic view of humanity, based on the assumption that the personality
inherently tends towards constructive development and growth.
• She also believes that individuals are able to consciously change and shape their
personalities and that they are not simply helpless victims of past experience.
• Current experience is equally important. Horney (1942) is so convinced of the
growth potential of each individual that she puts considerable emphasis in
therapy on self-analysis and people’s ability to deal with their own problems.
• In her view, self-knowledge fosters spontaneous growth and development, and
consequently she sees self-knowledge as a responsibility, as well as a privilege.
• She rejects the Freudian deterministic notion that human behaviour is
determined by instinct and hence not subject to personal control.
• According to her, every person has the potential to achieve self-actualisation.
• Horney’s optimistic view of human beings leads her to conclude that the
difference between normal and neurotic people is only one of degree, and that
neurotic people simply need to be set free from the limitations that block their
inherent growth potential.

Application of theory:
• Horney would believe that Nolu has the ability to acknowledge which
relationships are not conducive for her development, and that she does not need
to participate in any relationships that would hinder her development.
• Horney would further state that Nolu does not have to be a reflection of her past
experiences with the nature of her parents’ relationship, and that she can take
responsibility and over her own life and choices so that she can grow as an
individual.
• Essentially, Horney would argue that Nolu needs to take accountability for her
own growth and journey toward self-actualising.

The following Learning Outcome is assessed in this question:

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 Unit 4 – Chapter 6
o Grasp how Horney’s optimistic view of the person differs from Freud’s pessimistic
view and why she broke away from Freud’s orthodox views.

1.2 Discuss how Horney’s perspective on human development can be applied to

your own life experiences, challenges, and aspirations.

Solution: Unit 4, Chapter 4, p. 156 – 157

Suggested mark allocation

0–1 2–4 5–7 8–9 10
Minimal An excellent
discussion discussion
A good
provided. provided.
discussion
Average
provided.
Irrelevant discussion Excellent
information provided. information
Sufficient
needed about about the
information
the following: More following:
about the
Application of information Self-reflection of
No details following:
theory in needed about theory in
provided. Self-reflection of
Discussion on relation to the the following: relation to life
theory in
Horney’s case study. Self-reflection of experiences,
OR relation to life
optimistic view Self-reflection of theory in challenges, and
experiences,
of humanity theory in relation to life aspirations.
No challenges, and
relation to life experiences,
relevant aspirations.
experiences, challenges, and
information
challenges, and aspirations. The
provided.
aspirations. discussion
The discussion
The discussion explicitly aligns
is aligned to the
somewhat to the content
content being
Discussion does aligned to the being assessed.
assessed.
not appear content being
informed by the assessed. The discussion
Could use some
prescribed is presented in a
work.
textbook. coherent
manner.

The student’s answer should include:

• Students need to reflect on their own experiences, choices, and aspirations.

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 • Students need to draw from and integrate the theory to explain how they will
interpret their experiences, navigate their choices, and evaluate their
aspirations.

The following Learning Outcome is assessed in this question:

Unit 4 – Chapter 6
o Grasp how Horney’s optimistic view of the person differs from Freud’s pessimistic
view and why she broke away from Freud’s orthodox views.

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