Karen Horney: A Psychoanalyst`s Search for Self-Understanding [Hardcover]

Professor Bernard J. Paris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 1994

Karen Horney (1885-1952) is regarded by many as one of the most important psychoanalytic thinkers of the 20th century. Her early work, in which she quarrelled with Freud's views on female psychology, established her as the first great psychoanalytic feminist. In her later years, she developed a sophisticated theory of her own which provided powerful explanations of human behaviour that have proved to be widely applicable. Yet through these years of intellectual achievement, Horney struggled with emotional problems. This study of Horney's life and work draws on newly discovered materials to explore the relation between her personal history and the evolution of her ideas. Bernard J. Paris argues that Horney's inner struggles - in particular her compulsive need for men - induced her to embark on a search for self-understanding, which she recorded first in her diaries and then in her covertly autobiographical psychoanalytic writings. Although this search brought Horney only partial relief from her problems, it led her to profound and original insights into the human psyche. Paris describes Horney's life - her childhood and adolescence in Germany, marriage to Oskar Horney, motherhood, analysis and self-analysis, emigration to the United States, founding of the American Institute for Psychoanalysis, ostracism by the psychoanalytic establishment, and her many romantic liaisons. At the same time he examines the various stages of Horney's thought, showing how her experiences influenced her ideas. Focusing particularly on Horney's later work, Paris shows her mature theory to be an important contribution to the study of literature, biography, gender and culture, as well as to psychoanalysis and psychology.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This biography of the pioneer psychoanalyst attempts to reconcile her troubled private life with her professional accomplishments.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Founder of the International Karen Horney Society, Paris (English, Univ. of Florida) surveys psychoanalyst Horney's life and work, demonstrating how Horney's theories evolved from her own inner struggles. Drawing on new sources, including letters from Horney to her daughters, Paris expands work by biographers Jack L. Rubins (Karen Horney: Gentle Rebel of Psychoanalysis, LJ 9/15/78) and Susan Quinn (A Mind of Her Own: The Life of Karen Horney, LJ 10/15/87). Unfortunately, these new sources lack the depth of diaries already available to scholars, and Paris must rely on anecdotes and Horney's theoretical works for subjective details of her later life. Paris's most valuable contributions are chapters assessing Horney's mature theory, its contribution to modern psychology, and its applications for interdisciplinary studies. Recommended for academic libraries.
Lucille Boone, San Jose P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (October 26, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300059566
• ISBN-13: 978-0300059564
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,546,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading for Her Fans, April 21, 2011

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This review is from: Karen Horney: A Psychoanalyst`s Search for Self-Understanding (Paperback)

Karen Horney (1885-1952), part of the second generation of Freudian psychoanalysts, broke away from Freud and developed a detailed theory of neurosis in her later years. Her theory is described in depth in her two books: Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory of Neurosis and Neurosis and Human Growth: The Struggle Towards Self-Realization.

Bernard Paris' excellent book sketches Horney's life, her evolution away from Freud, and her turbulent sex life. Of particular interest is the story of how Horney took up and then abandoned Feminine psychology. The book also provides a valuable, concise description of her mature theory.

The book is essential for fans of Horney, who will be fascinated by how her ideas developed over time and will arrive at a deeper appreciation of her achievement. Those unfamiliar with her theory will find this book to be a good introduction to one of the most original thinkers of the twentieth century.