Chapter 5

Give a real-life example of a person who becomes angry toward someone who is weak because this weakness is a threatening reminder of what the person most dislikes about himself or herself.

Give an example from your own life, or from the life of someone you know well, to illustrate: (a) the "tyranny of the should," (b) the neurotic symptoms of inconsistent and indecisive behavior

Give an example from your own life, or from the life of someone you know well, to support Horney's view that "it is a long and hard lesson for anybody to learn that others can neither hurt nor establish self-esteem."

With regard to women, Horney argues that an organism biologically built for female functions cannot be ruled psychologically by a wish for masculine attributes. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Give a real-life example to support Horney's argument that "Every person belonging to a minority group or to a less privileged group tends to use that status as a cover for inferiority feelings of various sources."

A professional athlete wins his first world championship. His satisfaction lasts for only a short time, however, and he feels that he "has to" win a second championship in order to be respected. How might Horney explain the athlete's behavior?

A terrorist blows up a building in a hated foreign country. How might Horney explain the terrorist's behavior?