Alfred Adler Flashcards
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY
People are not victims of instincts, biological forces, and childhood experience
Focused on the uniqueness of each person
Personality is shaped by our unique social environments and interactions
INFERIORITY FEELINGS
Source of human striving and motivation
Normal condition of all people
Individual growth results from Compensation
Motivation to overcome inferiority, to strive for higher levels of development
Inferiority Complex
Inability to overcome for normal inferiority
Low self-concept, helpless, and unable to cope with the demands of life
Origin of Inferiority Complex
Organic – defective parts or organs of the body
Spoiling – when they are no longer the focus of attention (school)
Neglect – lack of love and security
Superiority Complex
Overcompensation for normal inferiority
Self-centered, exaggerated opinion of one’s abilities and accomplishments, denigrates others, vain, and boastful
STRIVING FOR SUPERIORITY
Strive to make ourselves whole or complete
Oriented towards the future (expectations and aspirations)
Increases tension – requires energy and effort
Manifested both by the individual and society – strive for both individual and cultural perfection (interrelated and interdependent)
Fictional Finalism
Imagined or potential goal that guides behavior
We strive for ideals that exist in us subjectively (perfection)
E.G. Belief that people are good and equal
STYLE OF LIFE (PERSONALITY)
Unique structure/pattern of characteristics, behaviors, and habits for striving for perfection or superiority
Influenced and learned by our social environment and interactions
Guiding framework for behaviour
(set by age 4-5)
E.G., Neglected children may feel inferior in coping to the demands of life and become distrustful and hostile toward others
Creative power of self
Ability to create an appropriate style of life (we create ourselves)
We are not shaped passively by childhood experiences, but by our conscious attitude towards them
Neither hereditary nor environment explains personality development, but instead, the way we interpret these influences forms the basis for the creative construction of our attitude of life
Universal problems
Problems involving behavior towards others, occupation, & love
The dominant type – abnormal
Ruling attitude with little social awareness
Extreme version – attack others (sociopaths)
Less virulent – substance abuse, or suicide (hurt others by attacking themselves
The getting type (most common human type) – abnormal
Dependent – expect to receive satisfaction from others
The avoiding type – abnormal
Ignores life’s problems to avoid possible failure
The socially useful type – (psychologically healthy)
Cooperates with others and acts in accordance with their needs
SOCIAL INTEREST
Innate potential to cooperate to achieve personal and societal goals
Level of ability to get along with others becomes a part of our style of life
Getting along with others is the first task we encounter in life
Gemeinschaftsgefühl
“community feeling.”
Focus on community interest
BIRTH ORDER
Sequence of sibling births is a major social influence
Different social environments based on differing parental attitudes and childhood conditions
Helps shape style of life (not automatic)
Certain styles of life will develop as a function of order of birth combined with one’s early social interaction
The creative self uses both influences
Birth Order Situations:
First-born child
Second-born child
Youngest born child
Only child
1st Born Child
Focus of attention (instant and undivided) and affection, then dethroned by the second born
Age gap matters (8 vs. 2 years)
Battle to regain supremacy
For a time, may be stubborn, ill behaved and destructive and may come to hate the second child
2nd Born Child
Don’t suffer the same sense of dethronement
Not as concerned with power
Parents have changed child rearing practices
Novelty has worn off, and less anxious and more relaxed
Older sibling as pacesetter (example, model, threat, or competitor)
Competition may motivate to surpass first-born
Youngest Child
Never faces the shock of dethronement Pet of the family Especially if siblings are a few years older Driven by the need to surpass others Develop remarkable fast
Only Child
Never lose the position of primacy and power
Remain the focus and center of attention
Spend more time with adults
Optimistic
Not driven by unconscious forces
Consciously shaping our development and destiny
