Alfred Adler

Introduction

Individual Psychology is a school of psychotherapy inspired by the theories of the Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler and is sometimes referred to as Adlerian psychology. It is a humanistic approach, focusing on the individual as a whole and emphasising the person’s strengths rather than weaknesses. It is premised on the belief that people are driven by the need for belonging, social engagement, and the desire for recognition and respect. Adlerian psychology views the individual as a unique organism, constantly striving to find meaning and purpose in life. It also places a strong emphasis on the individual’s environment and early childhood experiences, and the impact they have on the person’s current functioning.

Alfred Adler and the founding of Individual Psychology

Alfred Adler (1870-1937) was an Austrian psychiatrist and psychotherapist, and the founder of Individual Psychology. He developed his theories after working with Sigmund Freud in Vienna during the early 1900s and went on to form his own school of psychotherapy.

The life experiences of Alfred Adler had a significant influence on his development of Individual Psychology. Adler was born into a Jewish family in Vienna, Austria in 1870 and grew up in a time of great social, economic, and political upheaval. His early life experiences included the death of his father at a young age, poverty, and discrimination. These experiences shaped his views of the world and his belief that people are driven by a need for belonging and social engagement and also shaped his belief that people are driven by a need for superiority and his focus on the importance of understanding the individual’s life circumstances.

Adler received his medical degree from the University of Vienna in 1895, and went on to specialise in psychiatry and neurology. Adler was particularly interested in the psychological aspects of illness and the role of the unconscious mind in mental health.

Adler’s education was heavily influenced by the theories of Sigmund Freud, who he met while at the University of Vienna. Adler was fascinated by Freud’s theories, and they had a significant influence on the development of his own theories. Adler’s education was also heavily influenced by the work of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who developed the concept of the “will to power”. This concept was central to Adler’s belief that people are driven by a need for superiority.

In 1925 Alfred Adler and a group of his colleagues founded The Society of Individual Psychology (SIP), dedicated to furthering the development of Adlerian psychology and to providing a supportive community for practitioners.

The Society of Individual Psychology is an important resource for practitioners of Adlerian psychology, providing a supportive community and a range of activities and services to help practitioners to develop their knowledge and skills. It also publishes a journal, Individual Psychology: The Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice, and a newsletter, The Adlerian Update. By providing a platform for practitioners to connect with each other and to further their understanding of Adlerian psychology, the Society of Individual Psychology is an invaluable resource for the Adlerian community.

Theory’s development and evolution

Since its founding by Alfred Adler, Individual Psychology has evolved and developed to become an influential school of psychotherapy. Adler’s original theories have been further developed by subsequent theorists, including Rudolf Dreikurs and Lydia Sicher. Dreikurs was particularly influential, expanding on Adler’s theories to focus on the importance of social relationships and to emphasize the role of positive reinforcement in behaviour change. Sicher developed Adler’s theories to focus on the importance of understanding the individual’s life circumstances and the impact of early childhood experiences. More recently, contemporary theorists such as Karen Horney, Karen Horney-Baker, and Karen Horney-Goldstein have further developed Adlerian psychology by emphasising the importance of self-esteem and the need to create a supportive environment for growth.

Key Concepts

Focus on childhood experiences and environment

A key concept in Adlerian psychology is the concept of lifestyle. This refers to the individual’s overall approach to life and how they cope with the challenges they face. Adler believed that people develop a lifestyle based on their early childhood experiences and environment, and that this lifestyle can be adapted as they grow and experience new circumstances. He emphasized the importance of understanding the individual’s lifestyle in order to gain insight into their functioning and views the individual’s early experiences and environment as part of a larger social context. He also believed that it is possible to change an individual’s lifestyle by helping them to develop new coping strategies and to identify and address underlying issues.

“No matter what has occurred in your life up to this point, it should have no bearing at all on how you live from now on.”

— Alfred Adler

Striving for superiority

Minderwertigkeitsgefühl is a German term meaning a feeling of inferiority or inadequacy. It can be used to describe a belief in Individual Psychology that people are driven by the need for recognition, respect, and belonging, and that this need can create a feeling of inadequacy or inferiority. Adler believed that this feeling of inferiority can lead to a range of self-destructive or unhealthy behaviours, and that it is important to understand the individual’s lifestyle in order to gain insight into why they are engaging in these behaviours.

“I began to see clearly in every psychological phenomenon the striving for superiority. It runs parallel to physical growth and is an intrinsic necessity of life itself. It lies at the root of all solutions of life’s problems and is manifested in the way in which we meet these problems. All our functions follow its direction. They strive for conquest, security, increase, either in the right or in the wrong direction. The impetus from minus to plus never ends. The urge from below to above never ceases. Whatever premises all our philosophers and psychologists dream of -self-preservation, pleasure principle, equalisation -all these are but vague representations, attempts to express the great upward drive.”

— Alfred Adler

Teleology is a philosophical concept that refers to the belief that events are directed towards a specific, pre-determined goal or purpose. In Individual Psychology, teleology is the belief that people are driven by a desire to achieve a higher purpose or goal. It is based on the belief that people are striving for superiority in order to compensate for feelings of inferiority or inadequacy and that this striving can motivate people to pursue meaningful goals and to create a meaningful life for themselves.

Alder believed that goals can be viewed as a way to move forward in life, to create a sense of purpose and meaning, and to achieve a greater sense of fulfilment. He believed that it is important to recognise the individual’s positive goals and motivations, and to help them to find ways to achieve them by providing support, understanding, and encouragement, and by assisting the individual to develop positive coping strategies and to identify and address underlying issues.

Social Interest

Adlerian psychology places a strong emphasis on the importance of the individual’s need to belong, engage with, and contribute to the wider community. Adler believed that social interest was a fundamental part of human nature, and that people are driven by an innate desire to connect with and contribute to their communities. He also believed that social interest was necessary for mental health and well-being and that individuals who lack social interest can struggle with feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety.

Self-sabotage

Self-sabotage is a common phenomenon in Adlerian psychology. It is the process of intentionally or unintentionally engaging in behaviours that are damaging to one’s goals or happiness. This can manifest in various forms, such as procrastination, avoidance of challenges, self-criticism, or unhealthy relationships. Self-sabotage is often driven by deep-seated feelings of inferiority or inadequacy, and can be a defensive mechanism to protect the individual from failure.

In Adlerian psychology, the term “life lie” refers to an idealised version of reality that an individual has developed as a way to cope with feelings of inferiority or inadequacy. This idealised version of reality is based on the individual’s early childhood experiences and environment, and is a way for them to find meaning and purpose in their life. The life lie can become a source of comfort, but can also lead to unhealthy or self-destructive behavior. It is important for the practitioner to understand the individual’s life lie in order to gain insight into their functioning and to help them to develop positive coping strategies and to identify and address underlying issues.

“A lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt as dangerous.” — Alfred Adler

Self-acceptance

“A lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt as dangerous.”

— Alfred Adler

Adler believed that self-acceptance was necessary for mental health and well-being, and that all individuals have worth and value. Adler also believed that congruency was important for self-acceptance. Congruency refers to the alignment of one’s behaviour, thoughts, and feelings, and is based on the belief that it is important for individuals to be in harmony with their inner self. Adler believed that congruency was necessary for mental health and well-being, and that it could be achieved by understanding and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviour. He also believed that it was important to recognize and accept one’s strengths and weaknesses in order to create a sense of balance and harmony.

Adlerian psychology emphasises the importance of belief over trust. Adler believed that trust is based on external factors, such as past experiences and external validation, and can be broken or damaged. In contrast, belief is an internal process and is based on the individual’s own understanding and acceptance of themselves. Adler believed that belief was more powerful than trust and could not be broken or damaged by external forces, and that it was necessary for mental health and well-being. He also believed that belief was essential for self-acceptance and congruency, and that it was important to recognise and accept one’s strengths and weaknesses in order to create a sense of balance and harmony.

Trauma

“No matter what has occurred in your life up to this point, it should have no bearing at all on how you live from now on.”

— Alfred Adler

In Adlerian psychology, trauma is viewed as the impact of a person’s life experiences, rather than the experience itself. Adler believed that people are not determined by their experiences, but rather, the meaning they give them and how they choose to respond to them is self-determining.

Adlerian psychology emphasizes the importance of the individual’s ability to cope with difficult or traumatic experiences, and to use them as an opportunity for self-growth and development. He believed that it is possible to transform traumatic experiences and to use them as a source of strength, rather than as an obstacle to be overcome. This can be accomplished through understanding the individual’s life circumstances and providing them with the necessary tools and support to develop positive coping strategies.

“No experience is in itself a cause of our success or failure. We do not suffer from the shock of our experiences - the so-called trauma - but instead we make out of them whatever suits our purposes. We are not determined by our experiences, but the meaning we give them is self-determining.” — Alfred Adler

Courage

“The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions.” — Alfred Adler

Adler believed that fear can be a powerful motivator, and can lead to growth and development if we can learn to overcome it. He believed that it is important to recognise and accept our fears in order to move beyond them, and to use them as a source of strength and courage. Individual Psychology teaches us that by understanding the individual’s fears and the meaning they give them, it is possible to transform them into a source of strength and courage.

“The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions.” — Alfred Adler

All problems are interpersonal relationship problems

Alfred Adler famously posited that all problems are fundamentally problems of interpersonal relationships. Adler believed that human behavior is shaped by our social interactions and is driven by our striving for superiority or success. He argued that this striving is a natural part of human life, but it can lead to problems when it becomes excessive or is expressed in unhealthy ways. According to Adler, these interpersonal challenges often manifest as feelings of inferiority, which individuals attempt to compensate for in various ways. His approach to therapy thus focused on understanding the social dynamics and personal motivations behind a person’s behavior, and working to develop healthier, more cooperative ways of interacting with others. This perspective was revolutionary in highlighting the social nature of psychological problems and the importance of community and belonging in individual well-being.

Objectives for psychology and “life tasks”

“First, there are two objectives for behaviour: to be self-reliant and to live in harmony with society. Then, the objectives for the psychology that supports these behaviours are the consciousness that I have the ability and the consciousness that people are my comrades.”

— The Courage to be Disliked: The Japanese phenomenon that shows you how to free yourself, change your life and achieve real happiness by Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga https://a.co/1oRGm2K