alfred adler

Vienna in 1870

Vienna in 1870

Alfred Adler was born in — (place and year)

ophthalmology

Adler graduated from medical school in 1895, first practiced —- then later on became a psychiatrist

Individual Psychology

Adler eventually became the president of the of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society
then founded his own group, which was later known as

The Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology

this is perhaps the best introduction to Adler’s theory of personality

FICTIONAL FINALISM

• This concept was strongly influenced by the philosophy of Hans Vaihinger:

• Humans live by many purely fictional ideas—FICTIONS—that have no
  counterpart in reality

aggression

Adler claimed that — was more important than sexuality

will to power

Later on the emphasis on aggression was replaced by —

1. masculinity

2. femininity

1. Power was equated with —

2. and weakness to —

masculine protest

This is any form of compensation or overcompensation by both men and women in times that they feel inadequate and inferior

striving for superiority

Then came a time when will to power was abandoned in favor of —

1. aggressive

2. powerful

3. superior

Evolution of Adler’s Conception of the FINAL GOAL OF HUMANS:

1. He first claimed that the ultimate goal of human beings was to be
   —

2. Later on he changed in to being —

3. Finally he said that it was to be —
   

Superiority

Adler’s notion of —

• It is NOT social distinction, leadership, or high position/status in society.

• It is the striving for perfect completion.

• It is the great upward drive

organ inferiority

• This is a basic/constitutional inferiority/weakness in a particular body organ.

• Adler said that this is the reason why certain people get sick often in certain organs/organ-systems.

• He added that it may be due to heredity or developmental anomaly

inferiority

• Adler initially equated this to femininity.

• It was later defined as a sense of incompletion or imperfection.

• Under normal circumstances, this feeling of — is the great driving force of mankind.

inferiority complex

Under “abnormal” circumstance—pampering/rejecting the child—the
person will develop —-

Social interest

• this concept consists of the individual helping society to attain the goal of a
  perfect society.

• By working for the common good, humans compensate for their individual
  weaknesses.

• It can be viewed as socialized striving for superiority

Style of life

• This is the most distinctive feature of Adler’s psychology.

• It refers to the specific/unique way by which a person strives for superiority.

• According to Adler, it is the principle that governs the entire personality, and the
  whole that commands the parts.

• It is Adler’s chief idiographic principle

idiographic principle

the principle that explains the uniqueness of the person.

1. Social Relations

2. Occupation

3. Love and Marriage

THREE LIFE PROBLEMS OF ADULTHOOD:

1. friendship

2. school

3. opposite sex

the childhood counterparts of which are:

1. ruling type

2. getting type

3. avoiding type

4. socially useful

4 types of style of life

ruling type

• High ACITIVITY, low SOCIAL INTEREST

• People under this type deals with life problems by
  dominating them.

Getting Type

• Low ACITIVITY, low SOCIAL INTEREST

• People under this type expects to be given everything he/she needs.

• It is the most frequent type

Avoiding Type

• Low ACITIVITY, low SOCIAL INTEREST

• People under this type avoid defeat by avoiding the problems themselves.

Socially Useful

• High ACTIVITY, high SOCIAL INTEREST

• People under this type exhibits activity in the service of others.

• They also confront life tasks and attempt to resolve them in a manner consistent with the needs of other individuals.

creative self

• Adler claimed that humans make their own personalities, they construct them out
  of the raw material of heredity and experience.

• This concept is considered as Adler’s crowning achievement.

Neurosis

• Adler explained that — stems from the rigid overcompensation from
  perceived inferiorities.

• Under — , one’s goals are self-aggrandizement and personal interest rather
  than social interest.

• — symptoms are actually efforts of protection from the overwhelming
  sense of inferiority that the person is trying desperately to avoid

First Born

• Their typical story is that they are given a lot of attention then dethroned
  upon the birth of the second born.

• This experience my result to:
  - Hating people in general
  - Protecting self against sudden reversals of fortune
  - Protection from feelings of insecurity

• They are associated with being neurotics, criminals, drunkards and perverts.

• However, when prepared well for the situation, they become responsible
  and protective persons

second/middle child

• They are typically ambitious, constantly trying to surpass the older sibling.

• They have the tendency to be rebellious and envious

Youngest

• Adler claimed they are the ones that are typically spoiled.

• They are also associated to neurosis and maladjustment, next to the oldest

1. children with inferiorities

2. spoiled children

3. neglected children

the most notable types of childhood experiences or childhood situations