Alfred Adler: Individual Psychology

Alfred Adler: Individual Psychology

Individual Psychology

• Focuses on uniqueness of each person

• Denies universal biological drives and goals

Feelings of Inferiority

• Always present as motivating force in behavior

• Source of all human striving

• Growth results from compensation: attempts to overcome inferior feelings

Inferiority Complex

• Inability to overcome inferiority feelings: helpless, poor self-opinion

• 3 Sources:

• Organic: Physical deficits
• Spoiling: Immediate gratification, little regard for needs of others
• Neglect: Lack love, security, develop feelings of worthlessness

Superiority Complex

• Overcompensate for feelings of inferiority

• Exaggerated opinion of one’s abilities and accomplishments

Striving for Superiority

• Ultimate goal of life

• Drive to perfection

• Not an attempt to be better than others

• Fictional finalism: Reach goals set in the future to be complete, whole

• Potential goals guide behavior

Style of Life

• Expression of striving for superiority to attain goals

• Learned from early social interactions

• Guiding framework for all later behaviors

Creative Power of the Self

• Ability to create an appropriate style of life

• We create ourselves, personality and character

• Reactions and interpretations of experience more important than actual experience

Universal Problems and Styles of Life for Dealing with Problems

• Problems:

• Involving behavior toward others
• Occupational
• Relationships/Love

• Styles of Life: Specific Types

• Dominant: Little social awareness
• Getting: Expects to receive satisfaction from others, becomes dependent
• Avoiding: Avoids life’s problems
• Socially useful: Cooperates with others, shows social interest

Social Interest

• Innate potential to cooperate with others to reach personal and societal goals

• Individual must cooperate with and contribute to society to achieve goals

Birth Order

• Major social influence in childhood

• First born: Oriented to past, role of leader, organized, scrupulous

• Second born: Optimistic, competitive, ambitious

• Youngest: High achievers or helpless and dependent

• Only child: Difficulty when not center of attention, mature early

Assessment: Early Recollections and Dream Analysis

• Early Recollections:

• Personality created in first 4-5 years
• Earliest memories: reveal primary interest in life
• Ex: 1st school memory: Attitudes toward achievement, mastery and independence

• Dream Analysis:

• Reveal feelings about current problem and intended solution
• Oriented to present and future, not past
• Ex: School exams: Unprepared in situations

Research in Adler’s Theory

• Dreams: Support for solving current problems

• Early Recollections: Early memories may be associated with later problems Ex: Criminals

• Neglected children: Later showed more depression (inferiority)

Research in Adler’s Theory Continued

• Social Interest: Higher social interest=less depression and stress, higher empathy and popularity

• Birth Order:

• 1st born: Overrepresented in achievement- oriented positions
• 2nd born: No support for competitive, ambitious nature
• Last born: More likely to become alcoholics than 1st born (pampered excessively)
• Only: Adjustment, initiative comparable to groups with siblings