Final Answer:
Horney believed that men often express and compensate for womb envy primarily through their identification with the father figure.
Thus option c is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Horney, a prominent psychoanalyst, proposed the concept of "womb envy," suggesting that men, feeling inadequate due to their inability to bear children, compensate for this through various means. Among these, identification with the father figure stands out.
Men may seek to emulate or align themselves with the perceived traits and attributes of the father figure, aiming to compensate for their perceived lack or envy of the womb. This identification could manifest in adopting societal or culturally accepted masculine roles, behaviors, or ambitions, thereby seeking validation or a sense of completeness.
This viewpoint doesn't discount the significance of other factors such as career successes (b) or the Oedipus complex (d) in understanding male psychology, but Horney's focus on womb envy emphasizes the compensatory mechanisms men might employ. While career successes could be a manifestation of compensatory behavior, Horney's theory specifically highlights the psychological element related to men's feelings of inadequacy concerning reproductive capabilities.
The Oedipus complex, while relevant in Freudian psychoanalysis, revolves more around the unconscious desires of a child for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent, rather than directly addressing the concept of womb envy as proposed by Horney.
Horney's theory sheds light on the intricate psychological aspects of gender identity and the ways individuals might compensate for perceived deficiencies, emphasizing the significance of social and cultural factors in shaping human behavior and identity.
Thus option c is correct.