61 Feist and Feist explain that Horney believes that all people use the four
general ways to some extent; though, it becomes a problem when people feel forced to rely on them and unable to do others interpersonal activities 167. For
this condition, the people are considered as neurotics.
a. Affection
It means that the people try to fulfill their affection by satisfying themselves with compliment, material goods, or sexual favours. As a prominent
figure, Assef is often complimented by others. He is good looking. Besides, he is a prosperous person. His parents are rich. He has also the authority of many
things. Assef is always accompanied others. He also seems to be thirsty of
compliment. Therefore, he acts politely and gives compliments to others. It is because by giving others compliments, Assef will also get compliments. Talking
about sexual favour, Assef also strives to get it. Therefore, he gives orphanage money. Then, he picks some children in order to satisfy his sexual favour
Hosseini, 235-236.
b. Submissiveness
Assef becomes a member of Taliban. Yet, in the writer’s opinion, this part does not really fit with Assef’s condition. It is because Assef joins Taliban is not
for submissiveness. He joins Taliban because of the reason that will be stated in the following statement.
c. Achieving Power, Prestige, and Possession
By becoming the leader of Taliban, Assef acquires power, prestige, and possession. Power is for dominating others. Prestige is for protecting towards
62 humiliating by others. In Assef’s case, he interprets this as a way to protect
Pasthuns from Hazaras. Horney says that prestige has a tendency to humiliate others. It vividly fits
with Assef. It is shown by the fact: Assef humiliates other group Hazaras because of prestige.
Pasthuns do not want to live together with Hazaras. It is because they consider themselves as a group with high dignity. Therefore, being together with
Hazaras—as well as the Hazaras’ existence—breaks their prestige. It humiliates them. “Afghanistan is the land of Pasthuns. It always will be. We are the true
Afghans, not this Flat-Nose here. His people pollute our homeland, our watan. They dirty our blood Hosseini, 38.”
Assef does not want any Hazaras to inhabit on Afghanistan. He regards Hazaras as different people. Even, he does not want other Pasthuns to make any
relationship to Hazaras. This is seen in Assef’s statement when he criticizes Amir and Baba. It is because Amir and Baba make relationship—even, are very kind—
to Hazaras: Hassan and Ali. The narrator in the novel says, “Assef doesn’t accept the fact that an Afghan, a Pasthun, make relationship with Hazaras. Therefore,
Assef tells Amir “… You’re a disgrace to Afghanistan Hosseini, 39.”
d. Withdrawal
