Research Paper on:
Karen Horney vs. Harry Stack Sullivan

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Freudian theories. This is true of Harry Stack Sullivan (1892-1949) and Karen Horney (1885-1952). Most of the psychoanalytic theorists of that time era were European, Sullivan was an American. In  fact, he was the first American to propose a comprehensive theory of personality, interpersonal theory. Sullivans interpersonal theory argues that except for other people, an individual would have no personality.  Personalities had to be developed within a social context. He said that personalities exist only within the complex relations in which a person lives (Feist & Feist, 2009). This is  similar to Horneys belief that personality is developed within a social and cultural context. Like Freud, Erikson and others, Sullivan argued that different stages of development are crucial, from infancy  through adulthood (Feist & Feist, 2009). Sullivan viewed the personality as an energy system, which he explained as tension or action. In tension mode, the system is getting ready to  act and in the action mode, the energy has taken on a form (Feist & Feist, 2009). Behaviors may be overt or covert but in either case, they intend to  satisfy certain needs in order to reduce anxiety (Feist & Feist, 2009). Tensions are not always conscious, for instance, anxiety, premonitions, hunger and other tensions may not be felt on  a conscious level. In fact Sullivan thought that tensions were most often a distortion of reality (Feist & Feist, 2009). This suggests that motives for behavior could be either conscious  or unconscious. Tensions take two forms: needs and anxiety. Need are like biological or chemical needs. Hunger, thirst, and sleep would be examples. In these three examples, as soon  as the individual eats, drinks, or sleeps, the need no longer exists., at least for the time being (Feist & Feist, 2009). An interpersonal need such as the need for