Alfred Adler

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Alfred Adler

• Leslie Price
• February 19, 2008

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Adler Freud

• Adler never actually studied under Freud
• Was named the first president of Freuds
  psychoanalytic discussion group in 1910.
• Adler left the group in 1911 because of
  disagreements with Freud.
• Was the first member of the group to break away
  from Freud
• Called his approach Individual psychology

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Theory of Motivation Striving for Superiority

• Instinctual basis for personality is striving for
  superiority
• Begins with feelings of inferiority
• Person may strive for superiority over an Organ
  Inferiority
• i.e. stuttering, small hands, being short, etc.
• Everything we do is intended to establish our
  superiority over obstacles in life
• Feeling more inferior more striving for
  superiority

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• We all have some feelings of inferiority, thus we
  all strive for superiority
• We want to be perfect in some way the area in
  which we feel inferior
• Inferiority Complex excessive feelings of
  inferiority lead a person to feel vastly inferior
  to other people
• Helplessness no drive to establish superiority
• Run from challenges

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• Social Interest the instinct we are born with
  to work for the common good
• Suggests innate morality and basic instinct to
  care for others and put aside our interests
• Well-adjusted people strive for superiority
  through social interest.
• Poorly-adjusted people strive for superiority at
  others expense
• Style of Life characteristic way of striving
  for superiority
• Active vs. Passive, Constructive vs. Destructive
• Is a matter of degree

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Active

• Does good work to overcome inferiority

• Mistaken style of life
• Strives for superiority in ways to gain
  attention, but in a destructive manner

Constructive
Destructive

• Mistaken style of life
• Doesnt do anything but somehow makes a mess of
  other peoples lives

• Less active but still doing good things (like
  donations)

Passive
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Theory of DevelopmentParental Influence

• Personality formed in first few years of life
• Parenting extremely important in this
• Adler was a forerunner of family therapy

The Family Atmosphere
Treatment of child
Parents relationship with each other
Pampered
Neglected
Masculine protest
Feminine protest
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• Family atmosphere important in developing a
  healthy style of life
• Parents relationship with each other
• Treating each other equally
• Treating each other unequally interferes with
  childs expression of style of life
• Parents relationship with child
• Too much attention, over-protection ? pampered
  child
• Child is unable to be independent
• Increases feelings of inferiority
• Too little attention ? neglected child
• Child becomes cold and suspicious

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Theory of DevelopmentBirth Order

• First psychologist to emphasize birth order in
  formation of personality
• Firstborn ? excessive attention from parents
• Pampered
• Second child dethrones firstborn
• Increases feelings of inferiority in firstborn
• Middle child ? strong superiority striving
• No pampering (because of other child)
• Highest achievers
• Last-born ? pampered because are the baby
• Spoiled child ? no personal initiative
• Strong feelings of inferiority

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References

• Burger, J.M. (2008). Personality. Belmont, CA
  Thomson Wadsworth.