Personality Development Lap 4 Personality and Cognitive Development Part I

Alfred Adler Individual Psychology- study and treat the whole Conscious and unconscious work together Unity of the individual personality Worked with Freud until 1911 Not biological instincts or conflicting forces Not sex Not fragments of personality system—id/ ego/ superego Impact of childhood and social relationships on personality Social relationships (birth order, neglect, and pampering) shape how people see themselves now No development theory

Alfred Adler Factors of personality Sense of self – goal of human nature is to feel significant, valued, competent, and to belong Fictions: idea of the perfect self A story of yourself that guides and governs life choices

Adler Structure of personality development Inferiority- initial state of inadequacy People want control of their lives/ power in their lives Without control, they feel inferior or inadequate Inferiority complex: drive without success due to humiliation or defect/ a fixation that produces emotional stagnation Superiority- self-actualization Primary motivating force: Driving force behind all behavior is to escape inferiority and achieve superiority This most basic, self-perfecting drive to superiority shapes personality

Alfred Adler Goal of therapy: Therapy methods: Identify patterns of behavior (inferiority complexes) that began in childhood Emphasis is on addressing personality dysfunction (false fictions) Acceptance of shortcomings impels positive striving towards realistic goals, perfection, and success To develop a new self-image Therapy methods: Socratic Dialogue, patients help create solutions