ALFRED ADLER

Man is a ___________ being. Freud Jung Adler

___________ is the goal of life. Freud Jung Adler

Alfred Adler, M.D. Neo-Freudian: emphasis on conscious vs. unconscious Split with Freud in 1911

Founder of Individual Psychology ~ 1912 We are self-determining, we are not passive we are creative, active, “masters of our own fate” soft determinism A theory of hope, very positive We are motivated by social forces and feelings of inferiority

Inferiority inferiority: our feelings of "less than" that motivate us to strive toward identity and perfection by age 8, our personality is "crystallized" and we are driven to overcome feelings of inferiority perfection is the goal extreme inferiority can result in neuroses, or complexes

Striving Striving: We are all motivated by social forces and are striving toward goals. Perfection, not pleasure, is the goal. teleology: humans live by goals and purposes, they are moved by the anticipation of the future and they create meaning

Phenomenology phenomenology: one's subjective reality people give their experiences meaning through their views, beliefs and perceptions Adler was first theorist to stress the importance of perception fictive notions: unconscious notions about inadequacies, sense of belonging, and comparison of self to others Adler believed childhood experiences are not crucial, but our interpretations of those experiences is significant

Holism Holism: Adler's psychology is based on a holistic view of the person thoughts, feelings, beliefs, attitudes, goals the individual is an integral part of a social system (family, humanity) more focus on interpersonal (between people) than intrapersonal (within people)

Social Interest Social Interest : an individual's attitudes in dealing with other people in the world, striving for a better future for humanity (Gemeinschaftsgefühl!!!!!!!!!!!) our happiness and success are largely related to social connectedness - we are all motivated by a strong desire to belong our sense of identification and empathy for others social interest is a measure of mental health

To see with the eyes of another, to hear with the ears of another, to feel with the heart of another. For the time being, this seems to me an admissible definition of what we call social feeling. -Alfred Adler

Life Tasks We must successfully master 3 life tasks friends : healthy peer relationships work : healthy, goal-oriented, successes at work (this includes school) love : healthy intimate and romantic relationships, this includes family

Family Constellation family constellation: psychological and social configuration of the family group how one's self-awareness develops birth order roles (traditional or non) within family, values, patterns child's position and role in the family influence later personality development family atmosphere: climate of relationships among family members

Adlerian Life Chart Fictive notions: unconscious notions about inadequacies, sense of belonging, and comparison of self to others Conscious notions: conscious explanations for themselves and their behaviors Inferiority Complex: “pathology” resulting from feelings of inferiority Superiority Complex :“pathology” resulting from crippling state of superiority or isolation

Adlerian Therapy Adlerian therapy is a an educational model emotional disorders are “failures in life”, failures in the life tasks or an underdeveloped social interest