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Like Freud , she placed great importance on childhood experiences. However, she was more concerned with Social relationships, especially with Parents , whereas Freud emphasized internal conflicts. She created the concept of Basic Anxiety , a child's insecurity and doubt when a parent is indifferent, unloving, or disparaging. This anxiety, according to Horney, leads the child to a Basic Hostility towards his or her parents. The child may then become Neurotic as an adult.

Horney, like many later psychologists, challenged many of Freud's ideas as being Misogynist , particularly his concept of Penis Envy . Horney countered with the claim of " Womb Envy ", that Males perceived Females as being inferior largely due to males' inability to give Birth (this is the converse of " Penis Envy ").

There is a treatment center in her name on East 62 Street in ).