Karen Horney Theory and Political Psychology of Nasir Al-din Shah: From Childhood to the Removal of Noori from the Office

Political psychology of Nasir Al-din Shah who ruled Iran for fifty years in the sensitive period of transition to a new era, bears importance from different aspects. Studying his political character may be useful in understanding the socio-political developments of Qajar period. Using Karen Horney theory, this article surveys the political character and life cycle of Nasir Al-din Shah from his birth through his childhood, prince hood to kingdom. Our main hypothesis is that Nasir Al-din Shah had different personalities of misanthropy, succorance, populism and hegemonism in different periods of his political life. We have focused of features of any of these periods and their events as well as the determining facts in the psychological political aspect. The Iranian politics in the Nasirid period along with Nasir Al-din Shah’s spiritual changes have been changed. Due to personalization of the politics, his personal problems were reflected in the policy. Shah’s mental characteristics has not only affected the court but has also affected the entirety of Iranian society and its affairs.