basic anxiety
in ego psychology, a feeling of being helpless, abandoned, and endangered in a hostile world. According to Karen D. Horney, it arises from the infant’s helplessness and dependence on his or her parents or from parental indifference. Defenses against basic anxiety and hostility may produce neurotic needs and neurotic trends, such as a submissive attitude, the need to exert power over others, or withdrawal from relationships. See also basic hostility.