Neurosis 101

Karen Horney (1885–1952)— probably the most mother-like figure in psychoanalysis — has introduced her Theory of Neurosis guided by her experience as an analyst, and in opposition with many views upon it at that time.

She identified 10 neurotic needs and clustered them into 3 types of neurotics. For these to make sense, we’ll first explain the fundamentals of neurosis, in short.

At the root of neurosis lays an unresolved, even unidentified conflict, often ignored and covered up with attempts at resolving its symptoms. The truly potent conflicts, which have the power to lead to…