Adler: Individual Psychology

Individual Psychology

• Presents an optimistic view of people, emphasizing social interest, a feeling of oneness with humanity.
• Founded by Alfred Adler, who initially collaborated with Sigmund Freud but later developed an opposing theory.

Tenets of Individual Psychology

• Striving for Success or Superiority: The one dynamic force behind people's behavior, driven by an innate desire to overcome feelings of inferiority.
• Subjective Perceptions: People's behavior and personality are shaped by their subjective perceptions, rather than objective reality.
• Unity and Self-Consistency of Personality: Personality is unified and self-consistent, with all aspects of an individual's nature working together.
• Social Interest: The value of all human activity must be seen from the viewpoint of social interest, which is the natural condition of the human species.
• Style of Life: The self-consistent personality structure develops into a person's style of life, which includes a personal goal, self-concept, feelings for others, and attitude toward the world.
• Creative Power: Style of life is molded by people's creative power, which is the capacity to create one's own final goal.

Striving for Superiority

• Driven by an innate desire to overcome feelings of inferiority, which is present from birth.
• The final goal is fictional and has no objective existence.
• Creative power reaches full capacity by around 4-5 years old.
• People strive for superiority or success as a means of compensation for feelings of inferiority or weakness.

Subjective Perceptions

• People strive for superiority or success based on their subjective perceptions of reality, rather than objective reality.
• Fictionalism refers to the beliefs, goals, and ideals held by an individual that give meaning to their actions and attribute significance to their life.

Social Interest

• Fosters a sense of cooperation and is the natural condition of the human species.
• Developed through a social environment, with parents playing a crucial role in fostering social interest in children.
• The ideal father cooperates with the child's mother in caring for the child, avoiding emotional detachment and paternal authoritarianism.

Style of Life

• Refers to the flavor of a person's life, including their personal goal, self-concept, feelings for others, and attitude toward the world.
• Major problems of life include neighborly love, sexual love, and occupation.

Explore the key concepts of Individual Psychology as proposed by Alfred Adler, including the emphasis on social interest and the differences between Adler and Freud. Learn about Adler's departure from the Freudian circle and the establishment of his own theory.