Alfred Adler’sIndividual Psychology

Chapter 12

Influences on this ideaDisease results from or occurs in inferior

organsCNS tries to compensate

Takes energy from other organsShares tasksOther organs develop more

Thought we go out of our way to compensate

Inferiority Feelings (new subtopic)

Child is inferior in face of the world“At the beginning of every psychological life

there is a more or less deep inferiority feeling.”

Inferiority feelings are universal and innate

Part of human condition

When he looked at childhood games often saw attempts to be in charge/have power

Inferiority Feelings (cont’d)

Degree of inferiority feelings depends on interpretation of childDoes child see it as insurmountable or as

challenge?

Feelings of inferiority = cause for improvement in mankind

Can become extreme Inferiority complex = exaggerated feelings of weakness incl. belief that one cannot overcome them (what you see shy, timid, insecure, indecisive)

Inferiority Feelings (cont’d)

Review of theoryBorn with feelings of inferiorityMust do something

Inferiority feelings lead to desire to overcome them to develop and reach potential

Striving for superiority: attempting to attain greater degree of competence, mastery, and perfectionNot over othersSuperiority over feelings of inferiority

Striving for Superiority and Compensation(new subtopic)

Initiates compensation = process of overcoming feelings of inferiorityPositive compensation = healthy and within

social contextOvercompensation = carried to extreme and is

unproductive for ind and/or societySuperiority complex = false feeling of power

and security that hides overwhelming feelings of inferiorityWhat you see attention-getting beh, attempts to

make self important by making others feel small, etc.

Striving for Superiority and Compensation(cont’d)

Review of theoryInferiority feelings Striving for superiority

(Desire to overcome them)Need way to overcome them – goal

All behavior has purposeAlways look for goal of behavior—why we do

what we doPurpose of behavior gives direction and

meaning

Fictional Finalism(new subtopic)

Influence of Hans Vaihinger’s philosophy of “As If”Ultimate truths lie beyond our comprehension

and ability to verify

We create partial truths (constructs or schemas)

We act AS IF these are true – we will never know for sureExample – live as if there is heaven/hell

Called them fictions

Fictional Finalism(cont’d)

Fictional finalism: central goal in life that guides ind; way ind believes that he can obtain security, superiority, and belonging Image of what we need to become in order to feel safe,

superior, and sense of belonging Imagined ideal situation of perfection, completion and

belongingTeleological focus behavior is pulled toward this goalGoal is subjectively conceived with aim of achieving

sense of security, superiority, and belongingProblems result from fear of not belonging (we are

social beings)

Fictional Finalism(cont’d)

Fictional finalism serves two functionsIntiates compensation – gets us moving by

creating goal/destination

Creates positive feelings in present – hope

Fictional Finalism(cont’d)

Review of theoryFeelings of inferiority lead to desire to

overcome them (striving for superiority)This striving for superiority needs direction,

goalGoal comes in form of fictional finalismNow, we need to develop plan of how to reach

goalPlan = style of life

Style of Life(new subtopic)

Style of life = ind’s basic orientation to life and themes that characterize ind’s exp.How you live life, handle problems and

interpersonal rel’sOur individualized approach to experience

Includes how we perceive/give meaning to our exp’s

Results from our attempt to cope with real or imagined difficulties (feelings of inferiority)

Our plan—our roadmap to reaching the goal of fictional finalism

Style of Life(cont’d)

Explains how and why our beh fits togetherConsists of view of self and world as well as

ind’s habits and behaviorsInfluences (will cover more)

Early experiencesPrivate logicFamily constellationFamily atmosphere Birth order

Style of Life(cont’d)

Early experiencesWhat happened in early life – how did parents

treat youSignificant events and how we respond

Childhood disease ind may feel overburdened and remain focused on self (Adler stressed importance of humans as social beings)

Pampering may learn to take w/o giving, but does not learn to do for self

Neglect learn inferiority b/c told and shown they have no value

Style of Life—Influences(cont’d)

Private logic: personal truths—ideas we have about self, others, and life—that make up philosophy of lifeSelf-talk – what we believe about others and

how we may belongMistaken beliefs = faulty private logic

Attention I belong only when I am noticed.Power I belong only when I am in control.Revenge I belong only when I hurt others.Display of inadequacy I belong only by appearing

inadequate or helpless.

Style of Life—Influences(cont’d)

Family constellation: how close or distant family is in terms of relationshipsQuality of relationships in familyClose or distant – both can be problematic

Family atmosphereAttitudes/beliefs of family“Private logic” of family

Style of Life—Influences(cont’d)

Birth orderInfluence of ordinal position (e.g., first, second,

third, etc.) of birthAlso influenced by gender, years between

siblings, events, disabilities, etc.Examples…

Style of Life—Influences(cont’d)

Style of Life—Influences(cont’d)

Birth order (cont’d) What position does the 17-year-old male have? What about the 15-year-old female? What position does the 13-year-old female have? If the 15-year-old female is severely developmentally

delayed, what position might the 13-year-old female have?

18 17 15 14 13

Birth order (cont’d)What position does the 15-year-old female have?What position does the 14-year-old male have?

Style of Life—Influences(cont’d)

27 25 15 14 13

Birth order (cont’d)What position does the 14-year-old male have?What position does the 13-year-old female have?

Style of Life—Influences(cont’d)

18 17 15 14 13

Social interest: willingness to cooperate with others for common good and awareness of universal connection among all humans—feeling of community (German = “Gemeinschaftsgefuhl”)Innate sense of kinship with all humanityBut also must be nurtured, supported, and

encouraged by parents and society to developSaw man as social beingBroader sense of caring for community,

humanity

Social Interest(new subtopic)

As social interest develops, feelings of inferiority decrease

Influence of others on our developmentIf social interest developed, we see…

On affective (emotion) levelFeeling of belongingAble to empathize with fellow man

On cognitive levelRecognition of interdependenceNo man is island—can’t do it alone

On behavioral levelCooperation and helping others

Social Interest(cont’d)

Problems exist when…Feelings of inferiority are exaggeratedSocial interest not developed

“Discouraged” = term used to refer to when problems have developedInd feels discouraged => he resorts to ways to

relieve or mask feelingsHe avoids confronting difficultiesMay believe only one way to solve problems

View of Pathology(new subtopic)

Inferiority feelings may become so overwhelming and sense of belonging so underdevelopedThey retreat to protect their fragile but inflated

sense of self by using safe-guarding devicesAttempt to excuse self from failures by

depreciating othersDistance self from others by accusations, guilt,

etc.Develop symptoms that help them avoid

connections with others

View of Pathology(cont’d)

Problems—Psychological Types All neurosis (problems) = matter of insufficient

social interest, but also influenced by level of energy

TypesRuling type:

High activity + low social interestEnergetic and aggressive in pursuing own goalsCan be exploitative and manipulativeTend to push over others

View of Pathology(cont’d)

Psychological Types (cont’d)Types

Leaning Type:Low energy/activity level + High social

interestSensitive inds who rely on others to help

them through life’s difficulties Low energy levels => become dependentWhen overwhelmed, develop obsessions,

phobias, anxiety, etc.

View of Pathology(cont’d)

Psychological Types (cont’d)Types

Avoiding TypeLow energy/activity level + low social interestSurvive life by avoiding itTend to be stubborn, lazy, passive-aggressive

Socially Useful TypeHigh energy/activity level + high social interestThe healthy oneCopes with problems Orients toward life in successful ways

View of Pathology(cont’d)

Therapy Remember, considered those with problems to be

“discouraged” therefore, must encourage them Re-education Not resistance (as Freud saw), but lack of courage to

give up neurotic lifestyle Collaborative effort btn client and therapist Client must come to understanding – not forced

Goal of therapy = increase feelings of community and to find healthy ways to deal with inferiority feelings (encourage client)

View of Pathology(cont’d)