Chapter 3. Adler: Individual Psychology Flashcards
Presents an optimistic view of people.
Individual Psychology
Theory which believes that people are born with weak, inferior bodies, that lead to dependence on other people.
Individual Psychology
Pertains to the feeling of oneness with humanity, is inherent in all individuals.
Social interest
Adler soon founded his own group, the ____________.
Society for Individual Psychology
Adler believes that Man is motivated by ___________ and ___________.
social influences and striving for superiority
True or False. Unlike Freud, Adler believes that people have no choice in shaping their personality.
False. People ARE LARGELY RESPONSIBLE for
who they are.
Adler believes that present behavior is shaped by the
past or future?
future
Who believed that people are usually aware of what
they are doing and why?
Alfred Adler
Tenets of Individual Psychology
- The one dynamic force behind people’s behavior is the striving for success or superiority.
- People’s subjective perceptions shape their behavior and personality.
- Personality is unified and self-consistent.
- The value of all human activity must be seen from the viewpoint of social 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 the one dynamic force behind people’s behavior?
striving for success or superiority
People’s _________ shape their behavior and personality.
subjective perceptions
True or False. Personality is unified and self-consistent.
True
Style of life is molded by people’s _________.
creative power
This activate feelings of inferiority.
Physical deficiencies
Psychologically unhealthy individuals strive for __________.
personal superiority
What does psychologically healthy individuals seek?
success for all humanity
The striving for success or superiority is guided by what?
Final Goal
It is fictional with no objective existence.
Final Goal
The final goal is __________ for neglected or pampered children.
unconscious
The final goal is __________ for children who experience love and security.
conscious
These are expectations of the future.
fictions
This is an explanation of behavior in terms of its
final purpose or aim.
Teleology
True or False. Physical deficiencies serve an impetus toward perfection or completion.
True
True or False. Adler’s theory proposes that inconsistent behavior do not exist.
True
It is the harmony between conscious and unconscious actions.
dichotomous nature
It is a kind of physical speech.
organ dialect
True or False. Style of life is fairly established by age 10 or 12.
False. Fairly established by age 4 or 5.
Includes a person’s goal, self-concept, feelings for
others, and attitude towards the world.
style of life
What is the style of life of unhealthy individuals?
rigid style of life
What is the style of life of healthy individuals?
flexible style of life
External Factors
- Exaggerated Physical Deficiencies
- Pampered Style of Life
- Neglected Style of Life
These are largely conscious actions that protect self-esteem from public disgrace.
Safeguarding Tendencies
Safeguarding Tendencies includes _______, ________, and ________.
- Excuses
- Aggression
- Withdrawal
People state what they claim they would like to
do, that others will like, then follow it up with an
excuse.
Excuses
• Protects a weak sense of self-worth and deceive
people into believing they are more superior than
they really are.
Excuses
3 forms of Aggression
- Depreciation
- Accusation
- Self-Accusation
Undervaluing other people’s achievement and
overvaluing one’s own.
Depreciation
Tendency to blame others and seek revenge.
Accusation
People devalue themselves to inflict suffering on others.
Self-Accusation
2 forms of Withdrawal
- Running away from difficulties
2. Safeguarding through distance
4 Forms of Safeguarding through distance
- Moving backward (reverting to a secure period of life)
- Standing still ( avoiding responsibilities)
- Hesitating (vacillation, procrastination)
- Constructing obstacles (creating problems or trials)
Applications of Individual Psychology
- Family constellation
- Early Recollections
- Dreams
- Psychotherapy
Overemphasis on the importance of being
manly.
Masculine protest
Enhance courage, lessen feelings of inferiority, and encourage social interest.
Psychotherapy
3 Aspects of the Family Constellation
- Birth order
- gender of siblings
- age spread
What birth order is described?
Positive Traits • Nurturing and protective Negative Traits • Highly anxious • Exaggerated feelings of power • Unconscious hostility • Fights for acceptance • Must always be right • Highly critical of others • uncooperative
Oldest Child
What birth order is described?
Positive Traits •Highly motivated • Cooperative • Moderately cooperative Negative Traits • Highly competitive • Easily discouraged
Second Child
What birth order is described?
Positive Traits • Realistically Ambitious Negative Traits • Pampered • Dependent • Wants to excel in everything • Unrealistically ambitious
Youngest Child
What birth order is described?
Positive Traits • Socially Mature Negative Traits • Exaggerated Superiority • Low cooperation • Inflated sense of self • Pampered style of life
Only Child
It reflects patterns of one’s life.
Early recollections
