Alfred Adler

Question 1

INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY

Answer 1

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

Question 2

INFERIORITY FEELINGS

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Inferiority Complex

Answer 3

Inability to overcome for normal inferiority

Low self-concept, helpless, and unable to cope with the demands of life

Question 4

Origin of Inferiority Complex

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Superiority Complex

Answer 5

Overcompensation for normal inferiority

Self-centered, exaggerated opinion of one’s abilities and accomplishments, denigrates others, vain, and boastful

Question 6

STRIVING FOR SUPERIORITY

Answer 6

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)

Question 7

Fictional Finalism

Answer 7

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

Question 8

STYLE OF LIFE (PERSONALITY)

Answer 8

Unique structure/pattern of characteristics, behaviors, and habits for striving for perfection or superiority
Influenced and learned by our social environment and interactions

Question 9

Guiding framework for behaviour

Answer 9

(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

Question 10

Creative power of self

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Universal problems

Answer 11

Problems involving behavior towards others, occupation, & love

Question 12

The dominant type – abnormal

Answer 12

Ruling attitude with little social awareness
Extreme version – attack others (sociopaths)
Less virulent – substance abuse, or suicide (hurt others by attacking themselves

Question 13

The getting type (most common human type) – abnormal

Answer 13

Dependent – expect to receive satisfaction from others

Question 14

The avoiding type – abnormal

Answer 14

Ignores life’s problems to avoid possible failure

Question 15

The socially useful type – (psychologically healthy)

Answer 15

Cooperates with others and acts in accordance with their needs

Question 16

SOCIAL INTEREST

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Gemeinschaftsgefühl

Answer 17

“community feeling.”

Focus on community interest

Question 18

BIRTH ORDER

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Birth Order Situations:

Answer 19

First-born child
Second-born child
Youngest born child
Only child

Question 20

1st Born Child

Answer 20

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

Question 21

2nd Born Child

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Youngest Child

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Only Child

Answer 23

Never lose the position of primacy and power
Remain the focus and center of attention
Spend more time with adults

Question 24

Optimistic

Answer 24

Not driven by unconscious forces

Consciously shaping our development and destiny

Question 25

Free will

Answer 25

Shape the social forces that influence us and use them to creatively construct a unique style of life

Question 26

Uniqueness emphasized

Answer 26

Nurture influences primary

Nurture influences how innate tendencies (social interest and striving for perfection) will be realized

Question 27

Past & present focus

Answer 27

Childhood interactions with parents and birth order are important, but we are not victims of childhood events, but use them to create our style of life

Question 28

Growth throughout life

Answer 28

The creative power of the individual

Question 29

Early Recollections

Answer 29

Using themes of early memories (real or imagined) to reveal primary interests and style of life
Personality is created during the first 4-5 years
e.g., doctors had early memories of illness

Question 30

Dream Analysis

Answer 30

Reveal feelings about a current problem and what we intend to do about it
Interpretation requires knowledge of person and style of life

Question 31

Contributions

Answer 31

Influenced theorists in multiple areas of psychology, including Freud (aggressive drive)
Cognitive and social emphasis in line with modern trends
Social forces – Horney
Unity of personality – Allport
Creative power of the individual – Maslow
Equality of women
Penis envy is a myth created by men to feel superior
Organic inferiority Inferiority complex
Compensation
Birth order
Social Psychology
Group Therapy

Question 32

Criticisms

Answer 32

Inconsistent & unsystematic in theory (unanswered questions)
Are inferiority feelings the only problem we face in life?
Do all people strive primarily for perfection?
Disagreement with free will
Not clear how a child is able to create a style of life so young through the creative self
Specifics of forming the style of life are not clear
Lack of public recognition
Oversimplified