Alfred Adler

Personality PsychologyPersonality Psychology

HistoryHistory

Alfred Adler Born: February 1870 in Vienna, Austria Died: 1937 in Aberdeen Scotland while on a

lecture tour Career: Adler received a medical degree from the

University of Vienna in 1895. At first he specialized in ophthalmology.

By 1911, due to opposing views of the society, he terminated his association with the society and Freud. He eventually worked with the army, child guidance, and education. Eventually he moved to US and served as Professor of Medical Psychology at the Long Island College of Medicine.

HistoryHistory

Inferiority/Superiority

As a child, Adler had medical issues that limited his development.

He also wanted to outdo his older brother in many areas.

This lead to his overall beliefs about how inferiority and superiority can motivate us.

Motivating Force

Single motivating force Striving for Perfection

Fulfill out potential. Aggression Drive

Reaction we have when our other drives are frustrated.

Other Terms

Striving for Superiority The individual strives to have perfect completion

and self-realization.

Fictional Finalism. This is an ideal that may be impossible to reach,

but nonetheless motivates the individual.

Other Terms Inferiority

A psychological, social or physical weakness.

Compensation helps us overcome the inferiority.

It is a push toward growth. Originated with his ideas of organ

inferiority.

Other Terms

Inferiority Complex Overwhelming sense of inferiority; exaggerated

and pathological

Superiority Complex False feeling of power More concerned with attaining selfish goals than

with social interest

Style of Life

Our distinctive personality How you live your life, handle problems &

relationships

Developed by 5 years

Parenting

How our parents treat us directly affects who we become.

Neglect

Pampering

Styles of Life

Ruling High Activity, Low Social Interest

Getting (Leaning) Low Activity, High Social Interest

Avoiding Low Activity, Low Social Interest

Socially Useful High Activity, High Social Interest

Birth Order

Only First Middle Last