This essay will use the film Precious by Lee Daniels to illustrate Karen Horney's main concepts related to personality development. The social and cultural conditions experienced by Precious in her childhood and how they shaped and developed her neurotic personality will be discussed. Concepts such as basic anxiety, basic hurt, neurotic needs, coping strategies, and Horney's theory of self will be discussed and connected to Precious's life experiences and the relationships she has with her parents and other people significant. Furthermore, this essay will discuss whether or not Precious's neurosis changes over time and whether it increases or decreases over the period of her life shown in the film. Horney recognized the influence that social and cultural forces have on personality development. He theorized that it was these forces in childhood and not biological forces that shaped personality (Shultz). Horney focused on the relationship between the child and his parents and believed that it was a key factor in personality development (Shultz). Horney suggested that there are two basic needs in a child's life: security and satisfaction (Davies). Children whose needs for love and affection are not met by their parents are fundamentally malicious, have a weakened sense of security, and consequently develop what Horney refers to as basic hostility toward their parents and experience basic anxiety (Shultz) . This shocking development Honey labeled as neurosis. Taking a look at Precious's life we ​​can clearly see that there was a lack of warmth and affection shown towards her by her parents. Right at the beginning of the film we discover that Precious is pregnant with her second child, both the result of her father's rape... middle of paper... ship, even if they seem insincere, Precious manages to free herself from her abusive mother and has hopes realistic for the future. In conclusion, Precious has a troubled childhood, with an abusive father and an abusive mother, which shapes her personality into one with needs and insecurities. , becomes an aggressive neurotic and is in conflict between dependence and hostility. She has an idealized self and dreams of a glamorous life whenever she feels threatened, but she is also troubled by her despised self, where she feels insecure, worthless, and helpless. After a while, her relationship with Mrs. Rain and the birth of her second child by her father give her hope, and we see her neurosis lessen, and she is able to free herself from the grip of her abuse. mother and being within herself and having an accurate conception of herself.