Overview
This lecture introduces Alfred Adler's Individual Psychology, highlighting its differences from Freud's psychoanalysis and exploring core ideas like striving for superiority, social interest, and the role of goals in personality.
Historical Context & Theoretical Split
- Freud, Jung, and Adler initially worked together but split over theoretical disagreements.
- Freud focused on past experiences and biological drives, especially the sex drive.
- Adler and Jung viewed drives more metaphorically, not literally as Freud did.
- Adler replaced Freud’s focus on sexual drives with psychological, subjective explanations.
Key Concepts in Adler's Individual Psychology
- Adler's theory is called "Individual Psychology."
- Adler emphasized where we are going (future goals), not just where we come from (past).
- Human motivation is explained as striving from a sense of inferiority to superiority.
- Both inferiority and superiority are unique and subjective to each individual.
- Early experiences shape feelings of inferiority, which then shape life goals.
- Striving for superiority is about self-ideal, a personal, fictional goal.
- Unlike Freud, Adler believed people can change by choosing different goals.
- The unconscious, for Adler, is the unknown part of one's personal striving.
- "Lifestyle" or "style of life" is the consistent way a person organizes behavior to achieve their goals, set early in life.
- Behavior that seems irrational is often a different means to reach the same goal.
The Role of Social Context
- The individual cannot be separated from their social context in Adler’s view.
- Freud thought society required repression; Adler believed people have an innate ability to adjust and cooperate.
- "Social interest" (social feeling) is the capacity and desire to relate to and cooperate with others.
- Healthy adjustment involves strong social interest; maladjustment may stem from inferiority, lack of social interest, or an excessive need for superiority.
Application & Broader Implications
- Adler’s ideas address how to achieve a good life, succeed in relationships and work, and face life's tasks.
- Excuses for not confronting life’s challenges are called "life lie."
- Healthy development involves balancing inferiority and the pursuit of superiority within society.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Individual Psychology — Adler’s theory focusing on unique goals and motivations.
- Inferiority — A subjective feeling of inadequacy, often rooted in early childhood.
- Superiority — The personal goal or ideal self an individual strives toward.
- Lifestyle (Style of Life) — The consistent pattern of behaviors used to reach self-selected goals.
- Social Interest — The innate potential and desire to cooperate and relate with others.
- Life Lie — Excuses or rationalizations that prevent a person from facing crucial life tasks.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Adler’s concepts of inferiority, superiority, lifestyle, and social interest.
- Reflect on your own life goals and how they may be shaped by feelings of inferiority.
- Prepare to explore further applications of Adler’s theories in relationships, work, and societal functioning.