Alfred Adler (1870-1937) — Austrian psychologist, psychiatrist and thinker, one of the forerunners of neo-Freudianism, creator of the system of individual psychology. His own life path may have been an important help in creating the concept of an individual theory of personality.
See Alfred Adler: Biography
At first he joined the supporters of Freud, then he founded his own school, which received the greatest influence in the 20s, with the creation of the International Association of Individual Psychology.
The concept of individual personality theory
Unlike Freud, who emphasized the role of the unconscious and sexuality as a determinant of human behavior, Adler introduces a social factor into the explanation: a person’s character is formed under the influence of his “life style”, that is, the system of purposeful aspirations that developed in childhood, in which the need to achieve superiority is realized, self-affirmation as a compensation for the «inferiority complex» (Adler was the first to introduce this term).
For example, the famous ancient Greek orator Demosthenes suffered from a speech impediment since childhood, and many famous generals were short people (Napoleon, A. V. Suvorov).
Adler believed that initially most children have a sense of their own inferiority in comparison with «omnipotent adults», which leads to the formation of an inferiority complex in the child. Personal development, according to Adler’s views, depends on how this complex will be compensated. In pathological cases, a person may try to compensate for his inferiority complex by striving for power over others (compensatory theory of power).
The main key principles of his theory can be divided into:
- feelings of inferiority and compensation;
- striving for excellence;
- life style;
- social interest;
- creative self;
- birth order;
- fictional finalism.
Lifestyle and inferiority complex
Adler, in general accepting the structural model of the psyche developed by Sigmund Freud, replaces the highly abstract driving forces of the personality Eros and Thanatos with more concrete ones. He suggested that human life is determined by the struggle of two basic needs: the need for power and superiority and the need for attachment and belonging to a social group. The concept of «compensation» became central to Adler’s concept. A small child experiences his inferiority, inferiority in comparison with older ones (hence the term «inferiority complex»). The desire to overcome the inferiority complex starts the process of human development. According to Adler, it is the desire for overcompensation that occurs in response to a pronounced defect that leads to outstanding success (for example, a boy who is teased by everyone for his slender physique becomes a famous athlete). Adler was of the opinion that a normal person is able to achieve a balance between the desire for superiority and the desire for social attachment. Thus, a person tries to achieve superiority, but in those areas that are useful to society. Adler introduces the concept of «lifestyle». Lifestyle is the unique way in which an individual overcomes his inferiority complex and achieves community with people.
Basic work
- «Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology»
- «A study of physical disability and its mental compensation»
- «Neurotic constitution»
- «Meaning of life»
- «Comprehension of human nature»
- «Science of Life»
- «Social interest: a challenge to humanity»
- «Lifestyle».