Psychodynamic Therapies (Week 3)) Flashcards
Key Focus of Psychodynamic Theory
Problems reflect internalized representations of ourselves, others, and the world that were shaped by early childhood experiences and relationships. These internalized representations can distort our experiences of self, other, and the world.
Adlerian Inferiority
A basic feeling of inadequacy and insecurity
Adlerian Striving for Superiority
A motive to move from a sense of inteferiority to one of superiority, which includes a sense of competence, belonging, and significance.
Adlerian Social Interest
A motive to “strive for superiority in a way that contributes constructively to others and to society.”
Adlerian Life Tasks
Love
Work
Friendship
Self
Spirituality
Adlerian Convictions
Basic beliefs about self, others, the world that the indvidual expresses through thoughts, feelings, and actions about how best to strive for superiority.
Adlerian Fictional Lifestyle Goals
The child’s perception of the ultimate condition that, when achieved, will finally secure the child’s superiority. This condition is fictional because an individual created it and it can never be attained completely or permanently. Our continued striving for these increases our sense of suffering.
Adlerian Personality Priorities
Themes or lifestyle typologies
Adlerian Superiority Personality Priority
Being competent, right, useful, martyred.
Purposeful, competent, strives to be the best.
Costs: overinvolvement, overstress, uncertainty about one’s relationship with others.
Avoids meaninglessness.
Intense eye contact, attentive, constant movement.
Can make counselor feel insecure or inadequate.
Symbolized by Lion.
Adlerian Control of Others Personality Priority
Being in charge of others, authority, rule maker, boundary enforcer.
Take charge, reliable.
Cost is emotional distance; others withdraw or attack.
Avoids vulnerability.
Makes none or minimal body movements; challenging eye contact.
Can make counselor feel challenged and lead to a power struggle.
Symbolized by Eagle.
Adlerian Control of Self Personality Priority
Being “a rock in the storm,” composed, reserved.
Cost is emotional ditance, diminished spontaneity and creativity.
Avoids vulnerability.
Makes no or minimal body movements; rigidity; impassive facial expression.
Can make counselor feel distanced.
Symbolized by Eagle.
Adlerian Comfort Personality Priority
Being adaptable, calm, not “rocking the boat.”
Relaxed, easy-going.
Cost is diminished productivity, reduced positive social interaction.
Avoids stress.
Body movements: slouch, easy and fluid walk, shrug or shaking head
Can make counselor feel irritated, annoyed, and/or impatient
Symbolized by turtle.
Adlerian Pleasing Personality Priority
Being able to fulfill the needs of others first, altruistic, caring, unselfish.
Cooperative, eager to please.
Cost: stunted growth, alienation; extended relationship outcomes include rejection, disgust, frustration, despair, and exasperation
Avoids rejection.
Body movements: constant eye contact, half smile, immediate forward movement when called, hands in prayer/supplication.
Can make counselor feel pleased.
Symbolized by chameleon.
Adlerian “Mistaken Beliefs” or “Private Logic”
Faulty assumptions that develop in childhood as children make sense of their experience.
These tend to reflect black-and-white thinking.
Making these more public, even in a counseling relationship, helps you begin to question these.
We would call these “cognitive distortions” in Cognitive-Behavioral therapy.
Adlerian Overgeneralization
One type of mistaken belief/private logic.
Makes contextual truths into global truths, contaminating future experiences.
E.g., “It is never safe to take risks.” or “All men are bad.”
Adlerian False or Impossible Goals of Security
Removes risk by making unreasonable demands, setting expectations that are too high. These often begin with “only if . . . “ statements.
E.g., “Only if I can control my children will I be a good parent.”
Adlerian Minimization or Denial of One’s Worth
Owns sense of inferiority, thereby avoiding responsiblity.
E.g., “I’m just one person. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Adlerian Faulty Values
Values that reflect low, or a lack of, social interest.
E.g., “Do whatever it takes for you to be happy and get what you want.”
Adlerian Family Constellation and Birth Order
“How a child perceives significance in the family becomes the blueprint for later beliefs about self and others. . . . Therefore exploration of the client’s perception of her original family and her place within it can produce key information about the client’s present functioning.”
