In Karen Horney's theory, basic anxiety is a fundamental feeling of helplessness and insecurity that can block an individual's normal growth. It typically originates from unmet childhood needs, such as experiences of loneliness and isolation.

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According to Karen Horney, unconscious anxiety is a central concept in personality development. She proposed that this anxiety originates from unmet childhood needs, such as those related to loneliness or isolation, and can obstruct an individual's normal growth.

Horney's Concept of Unconscious Anxiety

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

To handle the basic anxiety that stems from unmet needs, Karen Horney proposed three distinct coping styles that individuals, particularly children, may adopt: moving toward people, moving against people, and moving away from people.

Horney’s Coping Styles

A seven-year-old child consistently seeks excessive reassurance from teachers, appears overly anxious when their parents are late for pickup, and has difficulty making friends, often saying they believe other children 'don't really like' them. The child's parents provide for all physical needs but are often emotionally distant and work long hours, leaving the child feeling isolated. Based on the psychological perspective that unconscious anxiety from unmet needs can obstruct normal growth, explain the most likely origin of this child's behaviors.

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