description Alfred Adler Overview
Alfred Adler (1870-1937) was an Austrian physician, psychotherapist, and founder of the school known as Individual Psychology. After an early association with Sigmund Freud's circle in Vienna, he developed an independent approach emphasizing social relationships, purposeful behavior, feelings of inferiority, compensation, and striving for significance or superiority. His ideas influenced psychotherapy, counseling, education, parenting theory, and later humanistic approaches to psychology.
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What is Alfred Adler's theory of Individual Psychology?
Alfred Adler founded the school of Individual Psychology, which emphasizes social relationships and purposeful behavior over Freud's focus on unconscious drives. He believed that human behavior is heavily motivated by the desire to overcome feelings of inferiority and achieve personal significance.
Did Alfred Adler work with Sigmund Freud?
Yes, Alfred Adler had an early association with Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic circle in Vienna in the early 20th century. However, Adler eventually developed an independent approach to psychology and split from Freud due to fundamental disagreements regarding the driving forces of human behavior.
What did Alfred Adler mean by the "inferiority complex"?
The "inferiority complex" is a term developed from Adler's Individual Psychology, suggesting that people are motivated by feelings of inadequacy originating in childhood. He argued that individuals strive for superiority to compensate for these perceived weaknesses in their social context.
When was Alfred Adler alive?
Alfred Adler was an Austrian physician and psychotherapist who lived from 1870 to 1937. His ideas regarding social interest and the holistic view of the human personality laid the groundwork for modern counseling and therapy.
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