The Psychology Of Alfred Adler Essay

Psychology is a term derived from two Greek words that translate to life explanation, which makes it an important element of daily life. The field of psychology can be described as a discipline that focuses on the study of mind and behavior. This discipline is characterized by several concepts and approaches that are used by psychologists in understanding human behavior. Since psychology is a broad field, psychologists not only use these concepts and approaches but also conduct scientific research that enables them to understand human behavior. Some of the most common psychological concepts that are used to modify or change an individual’s behavior include operant conditioning, positive and negative punishment,

The origin of these organs concern people on both a medical and moral level. In a

Flaws of definition make it so that a window of explantivity for the organs should be created. (Boniolo)

Adlerian psychotherapists often ask their clients about early recollections. What are the assumptions of this technique and how does it facilitate the therapeutic process?

Alfred Adler believed that humans “are not passive victims of heredity or environment (not objects) but active constructors and interpreters of their situations (subjects) (Stein, 1998).” This means that whatever has happened in the past, and early childhood especially, has greatly impacted the way we conduct our lives as adults. However, it is not what was done to us or not done to us that only effects our lives, but mainly how be interpreted those situations and how we formed our self image around them. It can be said that if a young child continually compared themselves to older children and adults they may develop inferiority feelings, which are guided by fictional beliefs. Adler believed these feelings would force these children to strive toward an unrealistic final goal. “The final goal is a fictional creation of the individual – an imagined ideal situation of perfection, completion, or overcoming. Movement toward the final goal is motivated by a striving to overcome the feelings of inferiority (Stein, 1998).” Yet, Adler believed in an actual and attainable “final goal” that was very similar to Maslow’s theory of “self-actualization [and moving] toward the full realization of [peoples] potential (Maslow, 1970).”

How to Speak How to Listen by Mortimer Adler discusses the best techniques to use while in an argument. According to Adler, ethos signifies one’s character. Ethos is present when one is trying to have a character that is fitting for the purpose at hand. Ethos includes making yourself attractive to the audience and proving to them that you are credible. An example of having ethos has a lot to do with how I would present myself to the audience. In order for them to believe that I am credible, I must look the part, that includes cleanliness, looking put together, and healthy. If the audience sees that you can take care of yourself, then they have a higher chance of believing that you can take care of them and their situation. Using ethos can also include presenting the audience with a personal story. This will fill them in with background information about myself and let them know how my character played out during whatever situation I spoke about. The situation would have to be similar to the one the audience is facing, in order for them to draw parallels and better understand how I would handle that particular event.

Psychodynamic is an approach within psychoanalysis (a human behaviour theory) which was found by Sigmund Freud. He believed that the unconscious mind which was developed primarily from childhood experiences is what drives our behaviour. Freud thought of the human mind as though it was an iceberg the conscious mind (which you’re in control of) as the tip, and the unconscious mind (which you have no control over) as the larger part of the iceberg. This led to him believing that personality was made up of 3 important elements, ID (instinct e.g. sex, hunger, lust, aggression and so on), Ego (reality and how you perceive the world) and Superego (morality, following rules within society and being sensible).

Gregory Adler, was born on June 18 1965 in San Francisco, California. His mother is Nancy Torikka and Father is Gary Adler. He has 2 younger siblings and a very large family. As a boy he was called Greg because “Gregory” is just to long as one friend put it. He was a bright boy, as he grew older he excelled in school and sports and had a wide variety of friends. He was always friendly and nice to anyone he met. After high school he went George Washington to get his bachelors degree in world cultures. As a young boy he had many family members around the world and was always interested in their culture. After he graduated with honors from George Washington he took time off and decided really get to know the various cultures and flew to various

Alfred Adler was the founder of Adlerian Counseling. He was born in 1870 in the country of Austria. who gave his theory the name Individual Psychology, because he wanted people to see that his theory and methods were designed to help clients help themselves. He believed that everyone had and internal need to be a part of society, and a desire to contribute to that society. That everyone strives for perfection, and everyone initially feels inferior to everyone else. He believed that when that feeling is not overcome, inferiority complexes develop, and if a person tries to overcompensate for inferiority, the develop superiority complex.

According to Adler, a person creates her life as a projection of these limiting beliefs in a self-fulfilling prophecy. In my case, since I believed I was alone and on my own, I chose to operate in ways that affirmed my beliefs about the nature of reality. I did not believe the world would provide for me, so I asked little and expected little, which affirmed my previously held beliefs.

Understand, interpret, direct. This statement is an oversimplification of sorts, but defines the essence of Adlerian psychotherapy. From this minimal overview of Adlerian theory, we can begin to elaborate and explore the intricacies of individual psychology. Adlerians are concerned with understanding the unique and private beliefs and strategies of the individual (private logic and mistaken notions) that we create in childhood, and which serve as a reference for attitudes, private views of self, others and the world, and behavior (lifestyle). Therapeutic work with clients involves short-term and intensive work to increase social interest, to encourage a greater sense of responsibility for behavior, and to support behavioral change.

In 1902, Alfred Adler was invited by Freud to become his group to discuss new ideas in psychology after seeing him publicly defend some of his own ideas. Adler was an active member as well as vocal using this group as a forum to develop and debate his emerging ideas of the human condition (Fall, Holden, & Marquis, 2004). Five years later, he developed his first theoretical work entitled, Organic Inferiority and Its Psychical Compensation. In the following years, Adler became the president of the International Psycho-analytic Society and began to openly disagree with Freud’s perspectives of

Adlerian theory, also referred to as individual psychology, stresses the need to understand individuals within their social context (Mosak & Maniacci, 2014). Interestingly, Alfred Adler gave his theoretical framework the name, Individual Psychology, which derives from the Latin term individuum. The meaning of individuum translates to “indivisible” and represents the holistic foundation of Adlerian theory (Mosak & Maniacci, 2014). Adlerians assume that every behavior has a purpose, causing them to focus on clients’ “style of life”, or consistent themes that occur throughout their life. Mosak and Maniacci (2014) describe Adler’s “style of life” as, “bias apperceptions about self, others, and the world from a self-consistent cognitive and attitudinal set which organizes and directs movement toward the goal” (p. 12). Accordingly, Adlerian concepts revolve around achieving the main tasks of life through cooperation rather than competition, in work, friendship, love, self-task, and spiritual task (Mosak & Maniacci, 2014). Furthermore, this theory focuses on influences that might encourage the development of exaggerated inferiority, and how these feelings can push people to better themselves in guiding the self-ideal and altering the way they strive toward success, such as through choices and level of responsibility.

Compared to psychoanalysts of Victorian Era, Alfred Adler looked at psychology from a more holistic, humanistic and positive perspective. He was convinced that the main focus should be shifted from biological needs, drives and instincts to individual differences, experience, interaction and social environment. Adler placed great emphasis on sibling and peer group relationships, social interest and achieving perfection. He also introduced the terms inferiority and superiority complex, so commonly used nowadays, to the world.

Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler are well-known and respected men in the world of psychology. Both their theories involved the study of the human mind. Freud believed that much of the human instinct was sexually based and that many problems they suffered were due to this instinct. Freud concluded that his patients' memories reached back to childhood and that many of the repressed experiences they recalled concerned sexual issues. Adler believed there was more to the individual but also knew that biology had an influence. He also believed that one’s birth order and socially affected the development of the human personality.