Adler theory of personality

Introduction:

Alfred Adler, a colleague of Freud’s and the first president of the Vienna Psychoanalytical Society He was
the first major theorist to break away from Freud. He subsequently founded a school of psychology
called individual psychology, which focuses on our drive to compensate for feelings of inferiority. Adler
(1937, 1956) proposed the concept of the inferiority complex. An inferiority complex refers to a person’s
feelings that they lack worth and don’t measure up to the standards of others or of society.

Adler’s ideas about inferiority represent a major difference between his thinking and Freud’s. Freud
believed that we are motivated by sexual and aggressive urges, but Adler (1930, 1961) believed that feelings
of inferiority in childhood are what drive people to attempt to gain superiority and that this striving is the
force behind all of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Contribution in psychology:

Alfred Adler's theories have played an essential role in a number of areas including therapy and child
development. Alder's ideas also influenced other important psychologists and psychoanalysts. They form the
basis of individual psychology and therefore are the important concept in Adler’s theory. They are as
follows:

 Inferiority complex
 Style of life
 Order of birth
 Social Interest

Inferiority Complex

In Adler’s view, every individual suffers from feelings of inadequacy and guilt, i.e, inferiority complex
which arises from childhood. Overcoming this complex is essential for optimal personality development.
When someone repeatedly fails to achieve mastery or places a lot more emphasis on some particular
weakness then, that may result in an inferiority complex. Adler believed that people are forever struggling to
overcome feelings of inferiority.

Compensation

Adler also proposed the concept of ‘compensation and over compensation’ which basically means that
people engage in activities that may overcome their feeling of inferiority. For example in the above story the
child wanted to spit at the lion, as that would have compensated his feeling of inferiority.
Style of Life

Adler believed that all of us create our own sense or approach to living. We have Personal goals which are
our constant source of motivation. These goals provide us with security and help us in overcoming the
feeling of inferiority. For example in the story above each child responded differently to the fear of a lion.
Morgan and king in their book, introduction to psychology, calls that this highly individualized style grows
out of the individual’s unique sense of his or her own inferiorities and the strategies he or she develops to
overcome them.

Social interest

Adler's perspective on social interest plays a significant role within his theory. Social interest encompasses
the idea that humans maintain a desire to live in cooperation with others, appreciate a sense of community,
and value the common good above personal interests. Adler stated that social interest shields individuals
from the inferiority complex and encourage healthy coping mechanisms.

According to Adler, social interest protects individuals against feelings of inferiority and promotes better
coping and a healthier attitude toward stressful situations. Social interest can be equated with empathy and
compassion for others. According to Adler, parent-child relationships and family life affect the development
of social interest, a contention which has been supported by research. An important social component of
Adler's theory is that of the three life tasks that individuals must experience:

 Work
 Friendship
 Love

The work task involves engaging in an occupational task that allows individuals to contribute to society.
Friendship is a social task that involves building healthy relationships with peers, and the love task is
focused on obtaining a partner for a long-term intimate relationship. These tasks are geared toward social,
conscious motives, unlike Freud's inclination toward the unconscious.