Psyc 212 Study Unit 3

Alfred Adler's

Key Concepts:

- Freud vs Adler:

• Freud: Focused on motivations like sex and aggression. Believed people are shaped by their past and unconscious drives.

• Adler: Emphasized social influences and striving for superiority. Adler believed people are largely responsible for shaping their personality, and that behavior is guided by future goals.

View of the Person:

• Holistic View: Unlike Freud, Adler saw people as indivisible wholes, with personality shaped by how one interprets life experiences and strives for growth.

• Fictional Finalism: People are motivated by imagined future goals, even if not fully conscious, which shape their behavior.

• Striving for Power: People seek to overcome feelings of inferiority by striving for mastery and self-improvement.

• Social Interest: True success is found in contributing to society and forming meaningful connections with others.

Structure of Personality:

Adler viewed personality as a whole, without distinct components.

Constitutional Attributes: Genetic influences.

Social Environment: Early childhood experiences, like inferiority feelings from weaker status, lead to striving for superiority.

Creative Self: A person's capacity to form life goals and creatively interpret circumstances to achieve them.

- Types of Personalities:

- Active-Constructive: Optimistic, socially oriented, and goal-driven to benefit others.

- Passive-Constructive: Cooperative but lacking independence.

- Active-Destructive: Selfish, power-seeking, and possibly antisocial.

- Passive-Destructive: Avoidant, antisocial, and passive in achieving selfish goals.

### Dynamics of Personality:

- Striving for Superiority/Power: Activated by feelings of inferiority, motivating people to improve themselves through compensation or overcompensation.

- Compensation: Overcoming weaknesses in one area by excelling in another (e.g., excelling in academics when weak in sports).

- Sensitivity to Inferiority: Some may become overly self-conscious, while others may avoid challenges.

- Overcompensation: Overachievement as a reaction to inferiority (e.g., extreme competitiveness to overcome bullying experiences).

- Social Interest: A deep sense of responsibility and empathy towards others; it's a sign of optimal development and mental health. Lack of social interest leads to inferiority or superiority complexes.

### Development of Personality:

- Early Years Matter: The first five years are crucial, with family dynamics and gender roles playing key roles.

- Free Will: Individuals have the freedom to shape their life goals and personality, though early experiences greatly influence their trajectory.

### Psychopathology:

- Degree of Dysfunction: There's no clear-cut difference between mental health and psychopathology. Dysfunctional behaviors arise from an excessive focus on the self and a lack of social interest.

- Complexes: Inferiority and superiority complexes develop from unmet needs or unhealthy striving, leading to dysfunctional behavior.

This overview touches upon key aspects of Adlerian theory, including personality development, striving for superiority, and social interest as critical factors for mental health and well-being.