1. Alfred Adler

2. Overview of Theory All individuals feel inferior Inferiority complex
Superiority Complex
Individuals deal with inferiority through
Compensation:
concentrate on building the weakness
emphasize other functions
Masculine protest

3. Overview of Theory
Motivated to strive from a “felt minus”(feeling of inferiority) towards a “felt plus” (feelings of superiority, perfection, and totality)
Motivating force behind all behavior is called Striving for Perfection or Superiority
the desire for competence and mastery over ones environment

4. Overview of Theory
Results in the development of the Fictional Goal (Fictional Finalism)
The imagined goal or desirable future state that motivates and guides us (whether true or not)
Unhealthy are inflexible (“The neurotic is nailed to the cross of his fiction…”)
Healthy people modify (“… The normal individual, too, can and will create his deity …… but will never lose sight of reality …)
Later called this Guiding Self Idea

5. Overview of Theory
Fictional Goal directs an individuals style of life (lifestyle)
Our unique combination of motives, interests, attitudes and values.
Determines how we will act in any situation.
Helps lead to consistency and uniqueness of personality
Begins as a compensatory process making up for a particular inferiority
Includes individual concepts about self, the world and one’s unique way of striving for goals (unifier of personality)

6. Overview of Theory Style of Life
Established by age 4 or 5 using the Creative Self
the dynamic force that allows us to use our experiences and heredity to construct our style of life
Can be identified through an individual’s early memories
Doesn’t matter if memories are true or not
Represents individuals first perceptions of self, world, etc

7. Overview of Theory Four types of lifestyles Ruling type Getting type
Avoiding type
Socially useful type
Mistaken lifestyles (neurotic)

8. Overview of Theory Ruling type: Seeks to dominate others
Directly by bullying, etc
Indirectly by suicide attempts, addictions, etc.

9. Overview of Theory Getting type Dependent
Leans on others for everything
Most common according to Adler

10. Overview of Theory Avoiding type Try to not deal with problems, etc.
Phobias part of this

11. Overview of Theory Socially useful type
Innate trait that makes all humans value contributing to society and the common good of others.
The most productive way to compensate for individual feelings of inferiority
The more socially oriented the healthier the individual
Gemeinschaftsgefuhl

12. Overview of Theory Factors of maladjustment of neurotics
Underdeveloped social interest
Live in their own private world
Set their goals too high
Have rigid and dogmatic style of life

13. Overview of Theory
Neuroticism creates need for Safeguarding Strategies (defense mechanisms)
Three types
Excuses or rationalizing strategies
As if excusing them from life due to their illness or symptoms
“Yes, but…”
“If only ….”
Often experience secondary gain as a result of this

14. Overview of Theory Aggressive strategies
Open or disguised hostility toward self or others
Depreciation
* devalue others through threats or inflating own value
Accusation
* blame others (no personal responsibility)
Self accusation
* blame self in such a way that it attracts attention, sympathy, etc.
* sometimes induces guilt in others

15. Overview of Theory Distancing strategies
Distances themselves from life’s problems
Restricts participation in life
Avoids challenging situations when there is risk of failure

16. Impact of Family Family Constellation Treatment Family Roles Pampering
Rejection

17. Impact of Family Birth Order (situation into which child is born)
Oldest child
Worst position
Middle child
Second born is most fortunate
Youngest child
Second worst position
Only child