3. Adler (Individual Psychology) Flashcards
Basic Tenet of Individual Psychology
People are born with inherently weak bodies, which leads them to feelings of inferiority and dependence on others, so a feeling of unity with others is inherent in people and the ultimate standard for psychological health
Striving for Success
Striving for success of humankind, motivated by social interest
Psychologically healthy
Striving for Superiority
Socially unproductive striving for personal goals motivated by inferiority complex
Psychologically unhealthy
Final Goal
Unifies personality
Either striving for success or superiority → a construct of heredity and environment and a product of Creative Power
Expressed in a different manner in each individual
Social Interest
A feeling of oneness with all humanity
The only measurement to be used in determining value of human life
Subjective Perceptions
Manner in which people strive for final goal shaped by subjective perception of reality
Style of Life
An individual’s unique manner of expressing their final goal, self-concept, attitude toward the world
Product of interaction of heredity, environment and creative power
Creative Power
Power to control own life and move towards final goal using one’s own method
Contributes to development of social interest
Unity of Personality
Shaped by Final Goal
Abnormal Development
Due to underdeveloped social interest → can be expressed as setting goals too high, living in private world or having a dogmatic style of life
May be due to exaggerated physical deficiencies, pampered style of life or neglected style of life
Safeguarding Tendencies
Patterns of behaviour people create to protect exaggerated self-image and maintain style of life
Includes excuses (yes but, if only), aggression (depreciation, accusation, self-accusation) and withdrawal (moving backward, standing still, hesitating, constructing obstacles)
Masculine Protest
Tendency to overvalue masculinity in society → motivates women to escape female role and assume masculine role; motivates men to be overtly aggressive
Birth Order
Subjective perception of birth order more important than birth order itself
Firstborns: superiority, anxious, traumatic dethronement (better if older)
Secondborns: more likely to develop social interest, competitive
Youngest: pampered, inferiority complex, lack independence
Onlies: superiority, lack self-interest
Early Recollections
Style of life informs early memories (e.g. anxious people recall anxiety, confident people recall pleasant interactions)
Dreams
Most are self-deceptions, disguised and not easily understood by dreamer
