Individual Psychology
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“To be a human being means to possess a feeling of inferiority which constantly presses towards its own conquest. The greater the feeling of inferiority that has been experienced, the more powerful is the urge for conquest and the more violent the emotional agitation.” - Alfred Adler
Adler, A. (n.d.). Alfred Adler Quotes (Author of Understanding Human Nature). Retrieved January 16, 2017, from https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/97579.Alfred_Adler
Goal:
The goal of individual psychology was promoting the well-being of adults. "Adler sought to help people realize that feelings of pain and inadequacy are caused not by others but by their own faulty logic and the behaviors and attitudes that stem from that logic” (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014, p.69)
The goal of individual psychology was promoting the well-being of adults. "Adler sought to help people realize that feelings of pain and inadequacy are caused not by others but by their own faulty logic and the behaviors and attitudes that stem from that logic” (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014, p.69)
Basic Principles of Individual Psychology:
The Importance of Feelings of Inferiority
The Importance of Feelings of Inferiority
- Striving to achieve superiority in one's life, not over others, is important
- How children are treated and how they deal with feelings of inferiority is important for future growth
- Children who are pampered grow up expecting things from others, while neglected children become discouraged
Family Constellation and Birth Order
Oldest children
Oldest children
- Most intelligent and achieving of the five groups
- Strong verbal skills
- Dependable, well-organized, and responsible
- Well-behaved and cooperative
- Conform to societal expectations and being fairly traditional
- The firstborns and only child in the family tend to be the center of attention and sometimes are spoiled
The second child
- Feels pressure to catch up and competes with the oldest child
- Gravitate towards endeavors where the older sibling is unskilled or uninterested
- Seek success in more creative and less conventional areas, like singing or drawing
- More caring, friendly, and expressive than older siblings
The middle child
- Feels squeezed between older and younger children who seem to receive more love and attention
- Difficulty finding a way to feel special and gets discouraged
- Feels unloved and neglected
- With positive parenting, the middle child can become well-adjusted, friendly, creative, and ambitious; prizing their individual strengths
Youngest children
- Pampered and spoiled, feels the need to keep up with their siblings and can become discouraged from competing with other siblings
- Less responsibility
- Strong feelings of inferiority
- Can acquire power in the family
- Adventurous, easygoing, empathetic, sociable, and innovative
Only children
- Commonality in firstborn and last-born children
- Seek achievement like firstborns and enjoy being the center of attention like the youngest
- Pampered and spoiled, focusing only on their own needs
- Mature early; learn to cooperate and deal with with adults
- If parents are insecure, child may adopt parental worries and insecurities
Lifestyle
- "..unique way in which each of us seeks to find out place in the world, to overcome feelings of inferiority, and to achieve our goals." (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014, p.68)
- Beliefs about ourselves and our place in the world, subjective & based on lifestyle
- Enables people to become aware of their faulty logic and align their lifestyle
- People can develop self-confidence and social interest by setting goals
- Interested in becoming a part of a group and desiring to solve problems in their society
(Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014, p. 65-70)