Individual Psychology: Alfred Adler's Theory

Vocabulary flashcards covering the core concepts of Alfred Adler's Individual Psychology, including complexes, lifestyle types, and the influence of birth order.

Alfred Adler

Austrian physician and psychiatrist (7 February 1870 – 28 May 1937) who founded Individual Psychology and emphasized social interest over libido.

Study of Organ Inferiority

A 1907 study by Adler focusing on physical deficits and how compensation for feelings of inferiority serves as a core idea in personality development.

Individual Psychology

A theory established in 1911 that focuses on the uniqueness and unity of individuals, social determinations of behavior, and the innate potential to cooperate.

Social Interest

The innate potential of an individual to cooperate with others to reach personal and societal goals; a primary goal of psychic activity in a social context.

Feelings of Inferiority

The source of all human striving and a constant motivating force in behavior, resulting from striving to meet social expectations.

Compensation

Attempts to overcome inferior feelings through intellectual, spiritual, or physical growth.

Inferiority Complex

The inability to overcome inferiority feelings, leading to helplessness and poor self-opinion; rooted in organic deficits, spoiling, or neglect.

Organic Deficit

One of the three sources of an inferiority complex involving physical deficits.

Spoiling

A source of inferiority complex where immediate gratification leads to little regard for the needs of others.

Neglect

A source of inferiority complex characterized by a lack of love and security, leading to feelings of worthlessness.

Superiority Complex

An overcompensation for inferiority characterized by an exaggerated opinion of one’s own abilities and accomplishments, rather than real superiority.

Striving for Superiority

The ultimate goal of life involving the drive to be complete, whole, and perfect, similar to self-actualization.

Style of Life

An individual’s unique way of perceiving the world, thinking, feeling, and acting; it serves as a guiding framework for all later behaviors.

Private Logic

The personalized reasoning that guides an individual's unique style of life.

Dominant Style

A style of life characterized by little social awareness while dealing with problems.

Getting Style

A dependent style of life where the person expects to receive satisfaction from others.

Avoiding Style

A style of life where the individual stays away from life’s problems to avoid potential failure or struggle.

Socially Useful Style

A healthy style of life where the individual cooperates with others and demonstrates social interest.

Creative Power of the Self

The human ability to create an appropriate style of life and personality through the interpretation of experiences.

Fictional Finalism

The concept that individuals are guided by potential future goals, acting as if these goals were already real to become complete or whole.

Dethronement

The experience of a first-born child when a sibling is born, resulting in the loss of exclusive parental attention.

First-born Child

Generally oriented to the past, organized, and scrupulous; often takes a leadership role but can become authoritarian or conservative.

Second-born Child

A child who is typically optimistic, competitive, and ambitious due to constant competition with older siblings; often well-balanced.

Youngest Child

Often pampered and protected; can become a high achiever or remain helpless and dependent on others.

Only Child

A child who typically matures early but may experience difficulty when they are not the center of attention.