Feist−Feist: Theories of
Personality, Seventh
EditionII. Psychodynamic
Theories- Horney: Psychoanalytic
Social Theory
© The McGraw−Hill^183
Companies, 2009Chapter 6 Horney: Psychoanalytic Social Theory 177believe that they are enti-
tled to be near the front
of the line, and they feel
no guilt or remorse in
moving ahead of others.Neurotic Pride
The third aspect of an
idealized image is neu-
rotic pride,a false pride
based not on a realistic
view of the true self but
on a spurious image of
the idealized self. Neu-
rotic pride is qualitatively
different from healthy
pride or realistic self-
esteem. Genuine self-
esteem is based on realis-
tic attributes and accom-
plishments and is gener-
ally expressed with quiet
dignity. Neurotic pride,
on the other hand, is
based on an idealized
image of self and is usu-
ally loudly proclaimed in order to protect and support a glorified view of one’s self
(Horney, 1950).
Neurotics imagine themselves to be glorious, wonderful, and perfect, so when
others fail to treat them with special consideration, their neurotic pride is hurt. To
prevent the hurt, they avoid people who refuse to yield to their neurotic claims, and
instead, they try to become associated with socially prominent and prestigious insti-
tutions and acquisitions.
Self-Hatred
People with a neurotic search for glory can never be happy with themselves because
when they realize that their real self does not match the insatiable demands of their
idealized self, they will begin to hate and despise themselves:
The glorified self becomes not only a phantomto be pursued; it also becomes a
measuring rod with which to measure his actual being. And this actual being is
such an embarrassing sight when viewed from the perspective of a godlike
perfection that he cannot but despise it. (Horney, 1950, p. 110)Horney (1950) recognized six major ways in which people express self-hatred.
First, self-hatred may result in relentless demands on the self,which are exemplified
Self-hatred is sometimes expressed through abuse of alcohol.