The Neurotic Needs--These are Truely Basic

"The Neurotic Needs" as offerd by Karen Horney, MD, Psychoanalyst

List of Neurotic Needs Psychoanalytic theorist and proponent of systematic Self-Analysis was Karen Horney, the pre- World I born psychoanalyst developed a multiple premise theory of neurosis. IN HER VIEW NEUROSIS, was very broad, as to include all of human experience which can be considered problematic for individuals. The problematic events came from both childhood and environment. Certain functions exist every human that affect or appear to cause key aspects of off tract or problematic results, not necessarily mind sick, but dysfunctional or on some continuum of things neurotic. She believed that neurosis in its varying degrees resulted from basic anxiety caused by interpersonal relationships. Her theory proposes that strategies used to cope with anxiety are or can be overused, causing them to actually shape the appearance and particular qualities of needs. If one understand how neurotic needs are so shaped presumably he would then where the purpose of a particular need originated. According to Horney, basic anxiety (and therefore neurosis) could result from (and was usually traceable to a variety of things built on early development and frequently caused characteristics backward traceable as to being patterns derived from childhood. With development came certain revisions, as different life passages were encountered. The revisions somewhat modify but keep a portion of the old and largely emotional set preferences as part of the new usually more appropriate settings of the preferences self-other. Childhood mishandling is of particular important in this. The child’s miss-interpretation of the events also are important. The child is theorized as seeing much of its experience as coming from a hostile outside world. She added a concept of a Basic Hostility. Basic Hostility of the world agaist the self then is a shaping factor for the adult needed to be part of an self-analysis often to answer the question How can this be that I distrust, feel put upon by others etc. This Basic Hostility and Basic Anxiety and emotional belief that flow from them has life long influences on self/other needs and other directions, symptoms and dysfunctions. She makes clear one cannot blame all neurosis on parental upbringing. However actual mishandling results in self[other set needs to result in distorted results See suggested ones such as direct or indirect domination, indifference, erratic behavior, lack of respect for the child's individual needs, lack of real guidance, disparaging attitudes, too much admiration or the absence of it, lack of reliable warmth, having to take sides in parental disagreements, too much or too little responsibility, over-protection, isolation from other children, injustice, discrimination, un-kept promises, hostile atmosphere, and so on and so on" Self-Others, (Relationship Movers) The three broad ‘directional’ categories. The 'neurotic needs' can be classed into three broad categories base on how one relates oneself to others. It also sets the term 'Neurotic' on a continuum of degrees found in almost everyone from the more or less normal, to those unquestionably deserving to be called 'neurotic' or sometimes termed in non technical views as sick. Therefore some caution should be used in calling all minor maladjustment and symptoms 'neurotic' unless the point under discussion has effects that are recognizably inappropriate or exaggerated. Also many things that Dr. Horney's places under the problems or symptoms as 'Neurotic' is without this being any kind of a value judgment. The purpose in self-analysis is to open the way to self understanding. It is intended to be used to explain and offer an additional ways to understand events in respect to their relation to yourself. The Three-- 'Basic self-others Directional Needs, 'Every Human has at times impulses to move himself in directions that could carry meanings 'Neurotic.' towards others away from others against others These are neurotic needs when they move you in your relationship with others to a degree that overshoots normal satisfaction or self-security goals that affect your relationships to others. towards others These neurotic needs cause some individuals to seek affirmation and acceptance from others and are motivators behind dependant clinging. The function to seek out and find approval and love. away from others Needs that move you away from others. These neurotic needs create hostility and antisocial behavior. These individuals are often described as cold, indifferent, and aloof. against others Needs that move you against others. These neurotic needs result in hostility and a need to control other people. These individuals are often described as difficult, domineering, and unkind. On was return here to a early and strong Basic Hostility as reappearing in adult life with little disguise. Well-adjusted individuals Well-adjusted individuals mix balanced others/self relations. Well-adjusted individuals, thus not mind sick or clinically neurotic, utilize all three of these strategies, shifting focus depending on internal and external factors, adaptively. What makes these inclinations or coping strategies neurotic? According to Horney, it is the overuse of one or more of these self-others interpersonal modes. Neurotic people tend to utilize two or more of these ways of coping, at the same time that reinforces or exaggerates results, as to end up in creating in the awareness function recognizable conflict, turmoil, and confusion. And at the same time produce certain behavioral dysfunctions, symptoms or acting out behaviors. This also an other way of looking at some relationships being, self advantageous or socially destructive. In her book Self-Analysis (1942), Horney outlined the 10 neurotic needs she had identified and which we presume are those to which you were at least aware of as your took it on to yourself to self-analyze. She seemed confident that most not to mind sick and reasonably intelligent can recognize these when they have a knowledge or their nature. You will know the neurotic needs  when you see them and their is no need to memorize the list and try to force everything you turn up as you proceed. You should read this lists and similar ones you may find as being good only for there assistance values useful as recognition aids, not some kind of black and white litmus tests. This applies also to all those interesting and fun personality tests you may be trying. They are useful for their recognition value not as a complete analysis of yourself. They or most other things the kind are not magic passports or holy books for a meaningful self-analysis. Neurotic Needs ( or sub-needs i.e., prestige/admiration/self display are suggested here to be seen also as possibly a cluster of effects all related even though sometimes polar in meaning). Some the needs offered here may belong together in some other cluster than the one they turn up in. Dream analysis provides clues as to many tricky transpositions of needs. Don't expect to find a cookbook procedure with that answers all questions. No such book exists in reality. Your mind is your mind and ultimately you must work its special nature as it exists uniquely within you. These is no good reason why you should not make it a life long tool permitting self analysis as you need it. On demand so to speak. Any expectations that such self analysis will make you a perfect or super person will fail as life is an ongoing thing with new challenges just ahead. In the end is as miage that moves just ahead of you. Hopfully not one of delusion but of a new interest,s new adventures, interisting and more understandable. Many directional relationships are layered and mixed what you can see today may not fully explain itself until months or years later rather than instantly. There is always more if only new drama telling a fresh version od an old very human story, Until then, you must continue to fight many resistances events, work through what is being uncovered, and move on to exploring things new and old. 1. The Neurotic Need for Affection and Approval This needs include the desires to be liked, to please other people, and meet the expectations of others. People with this type of need are extremely sensitive to rejection and criticism and fear the anger or hostility of others. 2. The Neurotic Need for a Partner Who Will Take Over One’s Life This involves the need to desire such a partner. People with this need suffer extreme fear of being lonely, abandoned by their partner. Oftentimes, these individuals place an exaggerated importance on physical aspects of love and believe that having the right partner will resolve all of life’s troubles. 3. The Neurotic Need to Restrict One’s Life Within Narrow Borders Individuals with this need prefer to remain inconspicuous and unnoticed. They are undemanding and content with little. They avoid wishing for material things, often making their own needs secondary and undervaluing their own talents and abilities. 4. The Neurotic Need for Power, Control. Individuals with this need seek power for its own sake. They usually praise strength, despise weakness, and will exploit or dominate, control other people. These people fear personal limitations, helplessness, and uncontrollable situations. They may over compensate for such fears how they wish to present them selves to the world. 5. The Neurotic Need to Exploit Others This is a Horney concept not universally included in other authorities views, but as a practical matter it seems useful to include. In other writings when the analysis of guilt becomes the focus the reason for this inclusion surfaced. How is it some exploit others without apparent guilt? This then in particular may explains on a need basis actively narcissistic and without balance from a an internal Super-Ego or an ethico-moral belief system? Are the pressures from the other basic needs somehow overwrite or corrupt any balanced seeking of satisfactions in regard to others or societies laws? These individuals view others in terms of what can be gained through association with them. People with this need generally pride themselves in their ability to exploit other people, how crafty the are , how they beat the system appears ideal to them. They often focus on manipulating others to obtain for themselves or sometimes their organizations, desired objectives, including such things as ideas, power, money, or sex. 6. The Neurotic Need for Prestige Individuals with a need for prestige value themselves in terms of public recognition and acclaim. Material possessions, personality characteristics, professional accomplishments, and loved ones are valued on their prestige value. These individuals often live in fear od public embarrassment and loss of social status. 7. The Neurotic Need for Personal Admiration Individuals with a neurotic need for personal admiration are narcissistic and have an exaggerated self-perception. Admiration an turn of an over valuation of their body, sex organs. Or just being the star of their own little productions. When they want to be admired based on this imagined self-view, not upon how they really are they are moving neurotic. 8. The Neurotic Need for Personal Achievement According to Horney, people push themselves to achieve greater and greater things as a result of every human trait, ' basic insecurity'. Basic Insecurity in her view is fundamental and strong and if we read her correctly, ever bit as important as the sex instincts. You have to come to grips with its influence in your life to gain control over it. It is often the driving force behind a persons various moves in relationship to his personal object world. These individuals fear failure and feel a constant need to accomplish more than other people and to top even their own earlier successes. 9. The Neurotic Need for self-sufficiency and Independence These individuals exhibit a "loner" mentality, distancing themselves from others in order to avoid being tied down or dependent upon or being responsible for other people. Other move-like relationships are sometimes shut down suddenly when closeness and responsibility factors are recognized. 10. The Neurotic Need for Perfection and Un-assailability These individuals constantly strive for complete infallibility. A common feature of this neurotic need is self-searching for personal flaws in order to quickly change or cover up these perceived imperfections. A few people begin self-analysis to sharpen their skills in this respect. They are following a delusion and will fail until they recognize the pursuit itself is what was in fact neurotic.

More than slightly rewritten to fit this format and for use of, 'The Szondi Test Study Group" While not based on any Szondi concepts its usefulness speaks for itself.