Chapter 3 - Adler Flashcards
When do we form final goals and why?
- age 4 or 5
- to compensate for some form of deficiency we perceive
- healthy = striving for success
- unhealthy = striving for superiority
What are the main tenets of individual psychology?
- The one dynamic force behind people’s behaviour is the striving for success/superiority
- People’s subjective perceptions shape their behaviour & personality
- Personality is unified & self-consistent
- The value of all human activity must be seen from the viewpoint of human interest
- The self-consistent personality structure develops into a person’s style of life
- Style of life is molded by people’s creative power
What is fictionalism?
- our actions are guided by our fictions rather than reality
- “as if” - we live as if our fictions are true even though there is no proof
- final goals are the most important fictions in our lives
What is the importance of physical inferiorities?
They give us impetus to strive for superiority/success
How does Adler address inconsistent behaviour?
- he claims that it is clever, subversive behaviour designed to confuse others
- he also feels it is likely unconscious
- in this way he can argue that all behaviour strives toward the same final goal
What is an organ dialect?
The expression of a person’s underlying intentions or style of life through a diseased or dysfunctional body organ
How does Adler distinguish between conscious and unconscious?
- conscious = part of goal which is useful and understood
- unconscious = part of goal which is unclear & not useful
What is Gemeinschaftsgefühl?
- usually translated as “social interest”
- oneness with all humanity
- sense of community
- empathy for each member
- cooperation for social advancement rather than personal gain
What are the origins of social interest?
- exists as potentiality in everyone
- mother develops bond
- father models cooperation on equal footing & caring attitude towards others
What are the basic methods of striving toward the final goal?
Innate striving force + physical deficiencies -> feelings of inferiority
• exaggerated feelings -> personal gain -> superiority -> dim perception of final goal
• normal feelings -> social interest -> success -> clear perception of final goal
What is style of life?
A person’s individuality that expresses itself in any circumstance or environment; the “flavor” of a person’s life
What is creative power?
- inner freedom that empowers each of us to create our own style of life
- contributes to development of social interest
- dynamic construction w/ building blocks of heredity
What trends do neurotics share, according to Adler?
- underdeveloped social interest
• set goals too high
• live in own private world
• have rigid, dogmatic style of life
What external factors contribute to maladjustment, according to Adler?
- exaggerated physical deficiencies
- a pampered style of life
- a neglected style of life
What are safeguarding tendencies?
- protective devices which enable us to hide our inflated self-images & maintain style of life
• excuses: “yes, but” or “if only”
• aggression: depreciation, accusation, self-accusation
• withdrawal: moving backward, standing still, hesitating, or constructing obstacles
