Alfred Adler:
Background:
A Psychiatrist in the late 1800’s
As a child he was very jealous of his older brother = compensated his feelings of
inferiority in many activities.
Worked closely with Freud
Focused on a humanistic view on life and believed that people actively seek to
improve themselves
Adler also believed that personal values and the desire for social involvement =
central idea in psychoanalysis
His new theory = Individual Psychology {broke away from Freud and formed his own
society}
Phases:
1. His initial phase of human behaviour was influenced by hi medical background and
Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis (eventually began to create his own viewpoint
which made minimal use of psychological explanations).
2. In his second phase he put forward the view that what motivated humans is “striving
for power” to overcome feelings of inferiority. = saw this as the force behind all
human behaviour.
3. In his third phase, he moved away from the psychoanalytical framework and came
up with his new theory that aligned closely with person-orientated framework.
Included the idea that a person is free to make chooses rather than a deterministic
view of human behaviour.
Individual Psychology:
His view of the person is Holistic (an individual functions as a whole and that a
proper understanding pf personality can never be achieved)
Assumes that people are motivated by social factors and are responsible for their
own thoughts, feelings and actions.
Also assumes that people are driven by purposed and goals that look toward the
future (strive for perfection) & suggests that humans are not helpless victims and ae
able to create our own lives.
Teleological vantage point:
o Striving towards a goal in a purposeful way
o Striving for power (basic human motive to compensate for weakness)
o Social interest (desire to serve the community)
o Determine your own lifestyle
o Teleological position = idea that behaviour is goal-directed = formalized by
Adler’s idea of fictional finalism (individuals’ creation of goals which direct
their haviour as reflected to their own unique lifestyle goals).
o Goal directed behaviour = the strive for perfection
, Structure of the Personality:
Sees personality as a whole that functions to achieve self-determined goals =
(lifestyles – social environmental factors & constitutional attributes)
Constitutional Attributes:
o An individual is born with a set of genetically determined attributed but these
are not decisive in determining the direction and nature of the individuals
development.
o A potential – in interaction with environmental factors & creative self = play a
role in human development.
o Most important aspects – physical & organic weaknesses which they are born
with / acquire. = feelings of weakness / inferiority.
Social Environment:
o Feelings of inferiority develops because of a child’s first social interaction.
o Infant = develops feelings of inferiority, comparing his/hers dependency &
smallness to the strength and largeness of parents in the social environment.
o Not genetically determined = a function of the infants small constitution in
interaction with the social environment = feeling of helplessness.
The Creative Self:
o Emphasis that human beings have the ability to be creative in forming their
own life goals and in planning how to achieve them.
o Ability to formulate life goals and the method to achieve them
The Lifestyle:
o Strive for superiority where an individual establishes his/her own goals and
uses their own methods in order to reach these goals.
o The creative self
o Distinguishes between 4 characteristic types of lifestyles:
The Active-constructive type:
The type that develops in a family atmosphere where the
predominant spirit is one of co-operation, trust & respect.
Marked by optimism, supportive and positive = problem
solving.
These people are often ambitious and active in achieving their
goals.
The passive-constructive type:
Community orientated goals but pursue them in a passive way
by relying on other people to take initiative.
Friendly and charming people = lack independence and
enterprise.
The active-destructive type:
Propensity for goals that are more selfish and disadvantage
the society.
Work towards fulfilling their goals and are often power-
seeking individuals
Somewhat antisocial behaviour.
The passive-destructive type:
Antisocial and tends to be lazy and passive aggressive.
Selfish antisocial goals but in a passive way.
Background:
A Psychiatrist in the late 1800’s
As a child he was very jealous of his older brother = compensated his feelings of
inferiority in many activities.
Worked closely with Freud
Focused on a humanistic view on life and believed that people actively seek to
improve themselves
Adler also believed that personal values and the desire for social involvement =
central idea in psychoanalysis
His new theory = Individual Psychology {broke away from Freud and formed his own
society}
Phases:
1. His initial phase of human behaviour was influenced by hi medical background and
Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis (eventually began to create his own viewpoint
which made minimal use of psychological explanations).
2. In his second phase he put forward the view that what motivated humans is “striving
for power” to overcome feelings of inferiority. = saw this as the force behind all
human behaviour.
3. In his third phase, he moved away from the psychoanalytical framework and came
up with his new theory that aligned closely with person-orientated framework.
Included the idea that a person is free to make chooses rather than a deterministic
view of human behaviour.
Individual Psychology:
His view of the person is Holistic (an individual functions as a whole and that a
proper understanding pf personality can never be achieved)
Assumes that people are motivated by social factors and are responsible for their
own thoughts, feelings and actions.
Also assumes that people are driven by purposed and goals that look toward the
future (strive for perfection) & suggests that humans are not helpless victims and ae
able to create our own lives.
Teleological vantage point:
o Striving towards a goal in a purposeful way
o Striving for power (basic human motive to compensate for weakness)
o Social interest (desire to serve the community)
o Determine your own lifestyle
o Teleological position = idea that behaviour is goal-directed = formalized by
Adler’s idea of fictional finalism (individuals’ creation of goals which direct
their haviour as reflected to their own unique lifestyle goals).
o Goal directed behaviour = the strive for perfection
, Structure of the Personality:
Sees personality as a whole that functions to achieve self-determined goals =
(lifestyles – social environmental factors & constitutional attributes)
Constitutional Attributes:
o An individual is born with a set of genetically determined attributed but these
are not decisive in determining the direction and nature of the individuals
development.
o A potential – in interaction with environmental factors & creative self = play a
role in human development.
o Most important aspects – physical & organic weaknesses which they are born
with / acquire. = feelings of weakness / inferiority.
Social Environment:
o Feelings of inferiority develops because of a child’s first social interaction.
o Infant = develops feelings of inferiority, comparing his/hers dependency &
smallness to the strength and largeness of parents in the social environment.
o Not genetically determined = a function of the infants small constitution in
interaction with the social environment = feeling of helplessness.
The Creative Self:
o Emphasis that human beings have the ability to be creative in forming their
own life goals and in planning how to achieve them.
o Ability to formulate life goals and the method to achieve them
The Lifestyle:
o Strive for superiority where an individual establishes his/her own goals and
uses their own methods in order to reach these goals.
o The creative self
o Distinguishes between 4 characteristic types of lifestyles:
The Active-constructive type:
The type that develops in a family atmosphere where the
predominant spirit is one of co-operation, trust & respect.
Marked by optimism, supportive and positive = problem
solving.
These people are often ambitious and active in achieving their
goals.
The passive-constructive type:
Community orientated goals but pursue them in a passive way
by relying on other people to take initiative.
Friendly and charming people = lack independence and
enterprise.
The active-destructive type:
Propensity for goals that are more selfish and disadvantage
the society.
Work towards fulfilling their goals and are often power-
seeking individuals
Somewhat antisocial behaviour.
The passive-destructive type:
Antisocial and tends to be lazy and passive aggressive.
Selfish antisocial goals but in a passive way.
