Adler Summary

Alfred Adler

individual psychology

individual psychology

stresses the wholeness and uniqueness of each person as he or she struggles to overcome feelings of inferiority by aspiring toward some future goal

existential

concern with free will and the meaning of human existence

humanistic

stresses the innate goodness of humans

organ inferiority

any sickness or physical disability

overcompensation

converts a weakness into a strength

organ inferiority theory

people were motivated to compensate for actual physical weaknesses by emphasizing those qualities that compensate for those weaknesses

Feelings of inferiority theory

compensation or overcompensation was directed at the feelings of inferiority resulting from either real or imagined inferiorities

masculine protest

striving to become more masculine in order to become more powerful

good feelings of inferiority

motivating force behind most personal accomplishments

inferiority complex

are not stimulated to growth by their feelings of inferiority. Rather, they are overcome by them and the feelings become a barrier to personal growth