By Charles LokIB Psychology HLSeptember 19, 2008
Born in Vienna in 1870 Almost died of
pneumonia at age 5 Events of his
childhood influenced his later theories
Adler received his medical degree from the University of Vienna
He was favored by Freud at first
Freud and Adler’s idea’s conflicted
Adler created the Association for individual Psychology
Moved to United States where his ideas spread
Died in 1937
Adler focused on Individual Psychology
Unique Style of Life Behavior is
motivated by goals rather than unconscious drives
Inferiority was also a major driving force
Individual Psychology
What Adler is most famous for Everyone is unique A holistic way of looking at personality
and behavior 3 conflicts that a person has to
confront determines their personality
Societal
Love-related
Vocational
This a process that Adler thought motivated behavior.
Gaining power Desire of mastery
over oneself Lifelong process Guided by goals
Inferiority and Compensation
Neglect or sickness- Inferiority Complex
Overly pampered- Superiority Complex
Inferiority
The belief that you are lacking in some way
Children experience a sense of helplessness
The feeling that people try to overcome with compensation
Compensation
The process of engaging in activities that make you feel good about yourself
Makes you feel superior to others Helps you overcome inferiority
Inferiority Complex
Excessive negativity on the part of the parents = Messed up child
This will manifest as withdrawal from social contact or the excessive seeking of approval from others
Superiority Complex
Results from over pampering = Excessively arrogant child
If a person has a superiority complex, he/she will view everyone as beneath him/her and will think that they are superior
First Child- Dethroned.
Second Child- Not over pampered or dethroned
Third Child- Over-pampered.
The Getting or Leaning The Avoiding The Ruling or Dominant The Socially Useful
Personality Types
Specially refined method based on his theories
Found out the individuals “Personality Type”
Degree of Activity Social Interest Qualitative and
detailed observations Childhood played a
role as well
Adler’s work is considered by some a revision of psychoanalytic theory rather than an alternative
Adler’s work lacks adequate evidence
His basic concepts lack evidence
Alfred Adler. Retrieved November 25, 2008, from NNDB Web site: http://www.nndb.com/people/256/000097962/
(2008 November 24). Alfred Adler. Retrieved November 25, 2008, from Wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Adler
Glassman, W (2006). Approaches to Psychology. New York: Open Press University.
Whetham, P (2006). Psychology. Australia: IBID Press.
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