Adler on Delusions of Power . "The striving for personal power is a disastrous ADLERIAN delusion and poisons man's living together. Whoever desires the human community must PSYCHOTHERAPY renounce the striving for power over others." . "One thing can save us: the mistrust of any form of Chapter 5 predominance. Our strength lies in conviction, in organizing strength, in a world view, not in the Sheila. K. Grant, Ph.D. violence of armament and not in emergency laws.” Professor . "For us the way and tactics emerge from our highest goal: the nursing and strengthening of social feeling." Alfred Adler’s The Phenomenological Individual Psychology Approach . A phenomenological approach . Adlerians attempt to view the world from . Social interest is stressed the client’s subjective frame of reference . Birth order and sibling relationships – How life is in reality is less important than how the individual believes life to be . Therapy as teaching, informing and – It is not the childhood experiences that are encouraging crucial – . Basic mistakes in the client’s private logic it is our present interpretation of these . The therapeutic relationship — a events collaborative partnership . Unconscious instincts and our past do not determine our behavior Social Interest Basic Tenets . Adler’s most significant and distinctive concept . Behavior can best be understood holistically in – Gemeinschaftsgefuhl or community feeling terms of its patterns or unity. Not reductionistic. – Human behavior has value to extent that it’s motivated by . All behavior is goal directed or purposive, social interest, that is, by a feeling of oneness with all of humanity although the individual may not be consciously – Striving for a better future for humanity aware of the purpose – A sense of identification & empathy with others . Every individual strives for superiority – Refers to an individual’s attitude toward and awareness (competence, recognition) of being a part of the human community . Every individual strives for social acceptance, – Mental health is measured by the degree to which we social belongingness successfully share with others and are concerned with . Each person interprets life in term of his or her their welfare unique perceptions (Phenomonological) – Happiness and success are largely related to social connectedness 1 Basic Philosophy Five Life Tasks . Humans are motivated by social interest, by . Friendship or relating to others striving toward goals, and by dealing with the tasks of life . Work or making a contribution to community . Emphasis is on the individual’s positive capacities . Love and Family Relationships to live in society cooperatively . Self-acceptance including our sex role . People have the capacity to interpret, influence, and create events . Spirituality or understanding our values, . Each person at an early age creates a unique goals and relationship with others. style of life, which tends to remain relatively constant throughout life Some Useful Definitions Mental Health . A Teleosocioanalytic Theory . Psychologically unhealthy individuals strive . Teleo – Goal-directed, Purposeful, Moving toward for personal superiority with little concern for . Socio – Social Interest, Social Belonginess other people . Analytic – Unaware of motives or purpose – Although they may appear to be interested in others, . Individual Psychology their basic motivation is personal benefit – Person can only be understood as a whole . In contrast, psychologically healthy people . Family Constellation: Relationship among family strive for the success of all humanity members – But they do so without losing their personal . Lifestyle: Your chosen path in life based on fictions identity and goals . Fictional Finalism: Distorted view of yourself and the world Some Useful Definitions BiBogiorgarapphhiiccaall Skketcchh o of fA Adlderler . Inferiority – Recognizing your limitations & need for others – If overwhelming can result in debilitating . Born in the suburbs inferiority complex – Lack of inferiority can result in superiority complex of Vienna on Feb. Adler's inferiority complex is an exaggerated 7, 1870. Alfred was neurotic reaction to inferiority or for superiority the third child and – Develops in early childhood – Subjective perception of self resulting from comparison of second son to a beliefs about others in primary group Jewish grain – Comparison is made regarding physical characteristics, social characteristics, & goals & standards merchant and his – Inferiority may not be consciously experienced wife. 2 Sickly Childhood Over Achiever . Developed rickets and • Average student but pneumonia as young hard worker child • Strived for perfection . Grew up in shadow of • Received medical degree from University his athletic, handsome of Vienna in 1895 older brother, • Opened general Sigmund medical practice in . Felt loved and poor, working-class encouraged by his part of Vienna family • Patients included gypsies & circus performers Family Man Liberal Reformist • Met Raissa Epstein, . Began writing about social inequalities socialist & friend of . Demanded that state funds be used to provide Leon Trotsky’s wife most up-to-date standards of health care for ALL people as a basic human right • Married in 1897 . Was an impassioned champion for rights of • Eventually had four women to equal treatment in their families & children society • Two of them . Wrote on education stating: became – primary role of teachers is to encourage the psychiatrists development of competence and self-confidence in students You’re in the Army Now Short Stint with Freud • He served as a • Adler joined Freud’s circle physician in the by Freud’s invitation in Austrian Army 1907, and in 1911 was during the First anointed by Freud as World War president of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society • Served on Russian • 4 months later Adler was front removed from his post & • Became even more excommunicated convinced of • He founded his own horrors and society called the Society injustices of war for Individual Psychology 3 Productive Years Flees Austria, Visits US • Adler continued to write& see clients. • He began treating families as he became convinced of the importance of • Visited the U.S. in 1926 & accepted a post family & social as visiting professor at Long Island College belongingness of Medicine • In 1934 he fled Vienna ahead of the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment and political upheaval Adler’s Legacy Personality Development . On May 28, 1937, during a series of lectures in Aberdeen University he died of a heart attack . Born inferior & dependent on others . Rudolf Dreikurs carried on his work in the U.S. • Must find place in Family Constellation . Other Adlerian counselors & psychologists of • Dangers of pampering or neglect note include – Heinz & Roweena Ansbacher, Jon Carlson, Raymond • Encouragement and acceptance is the Corsini, Don Dinkmeyer and Don Dinkmeyer, Jr., key Harlold Mozak, Tom Sweeney. Adlerian psychology is recognized today as one • Develop lifestyle based on our fictional of the most effective methods for raising and finalism teaching responsibility in a democratic society • Strive for superiority, competence, . Active Parenting programs are all based on Adlerian theory and principles recognition Personality Development Family Constellation . Strive for social acceptance, social belonging • Strive for friendship, love • Adler stresses Choice & Responsibility, Meaning in Life, & Striving for Success, Completion, & Perfection • Responsibility to work • You are not born in a vacuum • Responsibility to family • Your place in the family is instrumental in forming your personality • Responsibility for community involvement • Your birth order predisposes you to certain • Strive for self-acceptance including our sex role personality traits • Strive for spiritual understanding 4 Birth Order Only Child . Basis principle of Adler’s phenomenological view of birth order: • Birth is a miracle – Whatever role IS adopted is the one that is most • Child is center of the universe advantageous to finding a place – The circumstances are NOT as important as the • Can be spoiled perceptions of those circumstances • Parents are inexperienced • Child can lack empathy for others Predispositions of Only Child Oldest Child • Expects to be center of adult • First spoiled then Dethroned by next attention child • Prefers adult company • Given responsibilities & expected to • Uses adult language set an example • May not get along with other children • High parental expectations or siblings • Conservative, dogmatic Predispositions of Oldest Child Second Child • Feels privileged & powerful • “Speeder” as if always in a race • Authoritarian, conservative, (i.e., like training to surpass older dogmatic sibling) • Tends to be dependable & hard-working • Older sibling is always more • Strives to keep ahead competent • High Achievement Drive • Second-born often opposite of the firstborn • In competition with older subling 5 Predispositions of Second Child Middle Child • Competitive • “Sandwiched” with neither • Pleaser • the privileges of eldest or • In a hurry • attention of younger siblings • Always trying to catch & surpass • “What about me??? others • Often feels squeezed out Predispositions of Middle Child Youngest Child • Peacemaker, negotiator • Has many parents • Persuasive, manipulative • Treated like baby • May fight social injustice • Never dethroned\Tends to be most • May assume “poor me” attitude & pampered one can become a problem child Predispositions of Youngest Child Encouragement