Personality Disorder - Passive and Aggressive Style Personality

Estimated time: 13 minutes

CISCE: Class 12

Horney vs Freud

Karen Horney, a Neo-Freudian, rejected Freud's biology-based penis envy as the cause of women's feelings of inferiority.
She argued that social conditions and male power/autonomy create these gender differences instead.

CISCE: Class 12

Disturbed parent-child relationships in childhood produce basic anxiety, a deep fear of helplessness and isolation.
This anxiety prompts children to adopt rigid coping styles for environmental adjustment.
Process unfolds in three steps: unsafe home triggers fear, child selects a style, and style solidifies into personality.

CISCE: Class 12

Passive style involves complying with norms, rules, and parental orders to cope passively.
Children become obedient and adjustive, agreeing instead of objecting.
Example: A child follows bullies to fit in, risking hidden resentment and dependency.

CISCE: Class 12

Aggressive style features fighting and asserting to gain attention and rights.
Some aggression supports constructive actions, but excess leads to confrontational restrictiveness.
Example: A child yells at siblings for toys, fostering isolation and hostility.

CISCE: Class 12

CISCE: Class 12

Horney vs Freud: Horney said gender differences come from social conditions, not biology.
Basic Anxiety: Disturbed parent-child relationships create fear of helplessness and isolation.
Coping Styles: Children develop rigid coping styles that become part of their personality.
Passive & Aggressive: Passive style means obedience; aggressive style means fighting and asserting.
Withdrawn Style: Child avoids people and represses emotions to escape anxiety.