ALFRED ADLER AND INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY:Alfred Adler

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History and Systems of Psychology PSY502

Lesson 33

ALFRED ADLER AND INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY

Alfred Adler (1870-1937)

Alfred Adler

Alfred Adler was born in the suburbs of Vienna, Austria, on February 7, 1870 and died in 1937. He received

a medical degree from the University of Vienna in 1895. He began his medical career as an ophthalmologist,

but he soon switched to general practice. He then turned to psychiatry, and in 1907 was invited to join

Freud's discussion group. After writing papers on organic inferiority, which were quite compatible with

Freud's views, he wrote, first, a paper concerning an aggression instinct, which Freud did not approve of,

and then a paper on children's feelings of inferiority, which suggested that Freud's sexual notions be taken

more metaphorically than literally.

Although Freud named Adler the president of the Viennese Analytic Society and the co-editor of the

organization's newsletter, but Adler didn't stop his criticism. A debate between Adler's and Freud's

supporters was arranged, but it resulted in the resigning of Adler with nine other members of the

organization, to form the Society for Free Psychoanalysis in 1911. This organization became The Society for

Individual Psychology in the following year. He died of a heart attack on May 28, 1937.

Individual psychology refers to the idea that we should see people as wholes rather than parts. The word

individual means literally "un-divided." Second, instead of talking about a person's personality, with the

traditional sense of internal traits, structures, dynamics, conflicts, and so on, Adler preferred to talk about

lifestyle. Life style refers to how you live your life, how you handle problems and interpersonal relations.

Alfred Adler postulates a single "drive" or motivating force behind all our behavior and experience. He

called that motivating force "striving for perfection". It is the desire we all have to fulfill our potentials, to

come closer and closer to our ideal. It is very similar to the more popular idea of self-actualization. Further,

according to Adler the concept of "organic inferiority" is one of the most important factors in human

psychology. He thought that because of organic inferiority a person develops "striving for superiority."

This striving for superiority leads to:

Compensation

Over compensation

Compensation means striving to overcome. Since we all have problems, short-comings, inferiorities of one

sort or another, Adler felt, earlier in his writings that our personalities could be accounted for by the ways in

which we do -- or don't -- compensate or overcome those problems. One way to compensate inferiority

feelings or complex is to become aggressive. The person develops a drive to aggression but also has social

History and Systems of Psychology PSY502

interest. As a result of compensation for inferiority, drive to aggression and social interest a person develops

a style of life. A person's mental diseases can also be understood as his style of life.

Adler also stated that as a result of organic inferiority, a person develops feelings of inferiority. He may also

develop inferiority complex. Adler says it's a matter of being overwhelmed by our inferiority. If you are

moving along, doing well, feeling competent, you can afford to think of others. If you are not thinking of

others, if life is getting the best of you, then your attentions become increasingly focused on yourself.

Obviously, everyone suffers from inferiority in one form or another. For example, Adler began his

theoretical work considering organic inferiority that is, the fact that each of us has weaker, as well as

stronger parts of our anatomy or physiology.

Adler noted that many people respond to these organic inferiorities with compensation. They make up for

their deficiencies in some way: The inferior organ can be strengthened and even become stronger than it is

in others; or other organs can be overdeveloped to take up the slack which is overcompensation.

Sadly, there are also many people who cannot handle their difficulties, and led lives of quiet despair. If you

are overwhelmed by the forces of inferiority -- whether it is your body hurting, the people around you

holding you in contempt, or just the general difficulties of growing up -- you develop an inferiority complex.

The Adlerian therapy consists of:

A good human relationship between patient and doctor

Direct conversation

Dream interpretation

Analysis of childhood memories

Likes and dislikes of heroes

Body of languages sitting, walking, talking etc.

In other words, Adler believed in considering a number of factors when examining an individual for the

disorders he or she has developed. To him these disorders may have their roots in childhood or the

environment in which the person is living.

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