Adlerian Psychology Principles
Alfred Adler was an Austrian medical doctor and psychotherapist who lived and worked in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Adler’s work—now referred to as Adlerian psychology, or individual psychology—was impactful in his time, and many of the tenets of modern psychology are based on it as well. Adlerian psychology refers to a specific type of psychotherapy, but some of its principles are also evident in other types as well. Below we'll examine Alfred Adler's story, the main principles and theories Alder developed, and how his work continues to influence psychology today.
The career of Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler was born near Vienna, Austria in 1870. His own childhood illness—a case of rickets that made him unable to walk until age four—motivated him to become a physician as an adult. He graduated from the University of Vienna Medical School in 1895 and pursued a career first as an ophthalmologist, then as a general physician.
He later switched to the field of psychiatry and became part of a psychoanalysis discussion group formed by Sigmund Freud, who would later become known as the founder of modern psychoanalysis. Adler eventually parted ways with Freud when differences emerged in their views, although the two continued to regard each other as colleagues and remained on amicable terms.
The Society For Individual Psychology
In 1912, Adler founded the Society for Individual Psychology, using the term "individual" to refer to his view of the person as an indivisible whole who should be treated as such. According to Adler, all facets making up a person's personality need to be taken into account in a holistic approach to psychotherapy. Adler also founded several child guidance clinics in Vienna, lectured at universities across Europe and in the US, and wrote over 300 books and articles in his lifetime.
Seven Adlerian psychology principles
What principles encompass modern Adlerian theory?
Adler developed several key principles that further explain and contextualize this approach, as outlined below.
1. Holism
Holism refers to Adler’s belief that psychological and psychiatric treatment should address each individual as a unique, indivisible whole, rather than simply according to the “part” that’s symptomatic. As the APA Dictionary of Psychology defines it, holism means that “an analysis or understanding of the parts does not provide an understanding of the whole.” In other words, how a person deals with life can only be fully understood by looking at all components of their personality and experience, since these combined are what make someone who they are.
2. Humans as social beings
Adler believed that seeing humans as social beings in addition to unique, separate individuals was crucial. This manifests as the individual simultaneously striving for a feeling of uniqueness within social groups while also needing to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. He also identified that it’s within social groups that a person may be faced with many life challenges, such as those related to relationships with others, work, love, and sex, which is why a person’s behavior within these groups is so important to focus on.
He identified the family as the individual's first social setting, meaning that it plays an important role in how they view life and behave in other social settings later on. Adler viewed birth order and other elements of the family constellation as being formative forces in the development of the individual's worldview. In this way, Adler was an early proponent of examining family influences on the individual and vice versa. He believed that the individual needs to accept that their family and their past contributed to who they are, and that who they are has an effect on their family and others around them as well.
3. Feeling connected to community
Adler recognized the importance of community to the individual and emphasized that building strong, authentic connections within one requires work. He believed that community connectedness means living in harmony with and contributing positively to others rather than simply conforming. This concept, which he referred to as “social interest,” goes hand in hand with mental health, according to his work—that a person's level of social interest will determine how well they’re able to handle major life challenges.
4. Teleology as a result of feeling inferior
Adler described humans as innately teleological, or goal-oriented, meaning that all of a person's behaviors and emotions serve the purpose of moving them closer to their goal—which arises from the individual's feelings of inferiority and the desire to become perfect. According to Adler, everyone is born with a sense of inferiority as a result of being small, helpless, and depending on others for basic needs. This feeling may be compounded by a disability, abuse, or being told you're not good enough.
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As a result, the individual will strive to prove themselves to be significant or worthy by compensating for imperfections. Adler surmised that the reasoning behind a person's actions and attitudes becomes clear once the origin of their feeling of inferiority and the goals they have set to compensate for it are understood. That’s why he believed that it’s important for the psychotherapist to discover these goals so that they can help the client set new ones.
5. Being oriented toward a final goal
Since Alderian psychology sees the individual as inherently goal-oriented, that means they are inherently future-oriented as well—constantly striving toward their own “final goal.” This goal represents the individual's idea of success or of becoming complete by compensating for perceived inferiorities. A person's final goal is, therefore, akin to self-determination. While factors like culture and relationships may influence it, it’s ultimately a unique expression of the individual's creative ability that can be changed as their beliefs change.
This is often described as an optimistic, positive, and inspiring view of the individual. In psychotherapy, it promotes the idea that a psychotherapist can help an individual examine their final goal and the behaviors that are currently contributing to it. They can then guide them toward the willing choice of adjusting it as needed to make it more fulfilling, uplifting, and socially beneficial.
6. The impact of style of life
“Style of life” is a term Adler used to describe an individual’s personality and worldview. It includes the pattern of how they think about and behave within their social groups, their concept of themselves, and their strategies for dealing with life's challenges even as they try to improve upon their perceived inferior status. It may manifest in both conscious and unconscious ways and can be constructive or destructive to the social groups they’re a part of.
Style of life is seen as both a method of survival and a key influence in a person's development per Alderian psychology. It’s also linked to mental health in that a healthy individual should be adaptable and capable of changing their approach to situations, whereas someone who experiences high rigidity may experience more mental health difficulties. Adler noted, however, that while the style of life may be heavily influenced by childhood experiences that the individual can’t control, they are capable of initiating style of life changes and growth.
7. Logic
One final, key principle of Alderian psychology is that of logic as opposed to common sense. Logic refers to the ways in which an individual rationalizes their lifestyle. It can be viewed as their interpretation of reality and their place in it, which influences them to focus on themselves and on attaining personal security and superiority. Common sense, on the other hand, is an attribute of the community, which is consensual and serves the greater good. One aim of individual psychotherapy, then, is to help the individual adopt a more common-sense and less self-centered approach to how they relate to others.
How Adlerian theory influenced modern individual psychology
Adler is generally regarded, along with Freud and Jung, as one of the key thinkers and contributors to the development of the field of psychology. However, it is often pointed out that many of Adler's ideas on psychology are not directly attributed to him, even though they are widely used and accepted even today. Here are just a few examples of his far-reaching influence.
Adlerian therapy and the therapeutic alliance
Adler promoted the idea that the psychotherapist and client are equal partners in a mutually respectful alliance. In terms of actual psychotherapy sessions, he is credited with advocating for the psychotherapist and client to sit facing each other. This is in contrast to the arrangement of the psychotherapist sitting behind the client, as Freud recommended.
The inferiority feeling
Adler introduced the notion of the inferiority complex as being the driving force behind the development of one's personality and their quest for self-improvement. He also drew attention to the consideration of how social forces influence the development of personality. Adler put forward the notion that each person needs to belong to and be in balance with society to achieve a sense of wholeness.
Child psychology
Adler is also noted for his contributions to the study of child development and child psychology, including his support of principles such as mutual respect between parents and children and encouragement contributing to positive behavior.
Community outreach
He also contributed to the use of psychotherapy as a form of community support and care. In particular, he advocated for the use of preventative measures to help lower the risk of the onset of mental illness.
Alfred Adler: Influence on other renowned psychologists
Adler’s work also has influenced the work of other well-known, distinguished psychologists over the years. Some of these include:
Abraham Maslow
Co-founder of humanistic psychology, noted for creating Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Karen Horney
Founder of feministic psychology noted for her theory of neurotic needs
Carl Rogers
Co-founder of humanistic psychology noted for his client-centered approach and the theory of the fully functioning person
Today, elements of Alfred Adler's approach to psychology are practiced by many. Some still focus on practicing Alderian psychotherapy in particular. In the modern day, the focus of this modality is on building a relationship of encouragement and mutual respect between client and psychotherapist. As a result, the client can have a safe space to shed their negative self-image—which adversely affects how they function in society—and replace it with healthy self-confidence and connectedness.
Seeking the support of a therapist
There are many reasons an individual may choose to seek out the support of a psychotherapist. Those who are living with symptoms of a mental health disorder are typically advised to do so, but anyone who is experiencing a challenge in their life or who could simply benefit from a compassionate listening ear should feel empowered to connect with one. In most cases, you can choose between in-person and online psychotherapy.
For those who have trouble locating an in-person provider in their local area or who can’t afford in-person sessions might consider an online therapy platform, such as BetterHelp. You can get matched with a licensed therapist who you can speak with via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from the comfort of home, and for a cost that’s less than the average cost of an in-person session. Research suggests that online and in-office sessions can offer similar benefits in many cases, so you can feel confident in whichever one you choose.
Takeaway
Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about Adlerian psychology principles.
What is the main principle of Adlerian theory?
While there are a number of important Adlerian psychology principles, the most crucial might be the concept of the inferiority complex. This refers to a sense of incompleteness or inadequacy that — according to this theory — everyone feels to some degree as a result of their experiences of helplessness in early childhood.
In Alderian theory (also known as individual psychology), an individual’s behavior is shaped to a large extent by the particular memories, sensations, and ideas associated with their own sense of inferiority. A person’s urge to overcome the specific aspects of themselves that they feel are inadequate can determine their big-picture goals in life, as well as their psychological difficulties. In Alderian therapy, helping the client understand these deep-seated drives can be a crucial part of the treatment process.
What are the key concepts of Adlerian psychology?
Some of the core concepts in Alderian psychology are:
- People have a psychological need for both individuality and belonging
- Human behavior is often motivated by feelings of inferiority
- Attitudes of arrogance and superiority may arise as attempts to compensate for an inner sense of weakness
- Treatment should be short-term and oriented toward goals and solutions
- Therapists should strive to understand patients as unique individuals before offering advice
- Psychological treatment should involve cooperative methods in which the counselor works to form a strong therapeutic alliance with the client
What are the 7 critical ideas of Adlerian theory?
According to Adler University, the 7 core Alderian principles are:
- Humans are socially embedded. In Alderian theory, mental health and illness can’t be understood in isolation. A person’s adjustment to their social context is seen as a crucial part of their well-being and personal development.
- Subjective experience is crucial. This therapeutic approach regards an individual’s understanding and interpretation of their life circumstances as more important than the objective facts (at least when it comes to their psychological health).
- People are self-determining and creative. Though a person’s attitudes and beliefs may be influenced by outside forces, Alderian therapists believe that people are capable of reshaping their own mental structures to achieve personal growth.
- Human nature is goal-directed. Individual psychology regards all behavior as oriented toward a specific goal, even if it’s an unconscious one. This doesn’t rule out the possibility of counterproductive behavior, but it does mean that therapists using this method are unlikely to view a patient’s actions as random or purposeless.
- Psychology should be understood holistically. Therapists taking an essentially Adlerian approach will generally attempt to understand someone’s personality as a whole, rather than focusing on specific symptoms or traits.
- Social justice and individual well-being are intertwined. Alfred Adler was an early proponent of ideas like feminism and racial justice, and he discussed social equality extensively in his lectures and publications. Today, Adlerian therapy recognizes the importance of factors like structural oppression in the formation of an individual’s mental makeup.
- Therapists should have a proper philosophical orientation. Therapeutic methods based on Adler’s work generally adopt his theoretical approach as well. This can involve elements such as:
- A focus on the future
- An emphasis on solutions
- Therapy as a time-limited treatment rather than an ongoing process
- Use of both cognitive theory and systemic views to understand behavior
What are the six principal goals of Adlerian therapy?
While each client may have their own specific aims when approaching treatment, Alderian therapy typically works toward the following big-picture goals:
- Understanding the factors that shape the patient’s lifestyle and behavior
- Identifying the individual’s “fictional final goal” — their idealized image of completeness and perfection
- Identifying unrealistic aspects of their final goal and reframing it in ways that promote ongoing personal growth
- Overcoming both exaggerated feelings of inferiority and the need to prove superiority over others
- Nurturing a sense of belonging and purpose within society
- Developing strategies and coping mechanisms that will help the patient achieve success in their life goals
What are the major concerns of Adlerian psychology?
One of the main concerns within individual psychology is what Adler called Gemeinschaftsgefühl, which has been translated as “social feeling”, “social interest”, or “community feeling”. This concept refers to a combination of several factors within a person, including:
- Their sense of belonging to a community
- Their awareness of how their individual actions affect society as a whole
- Their understanding of their role and function within the community
Helping patients cultivate this feeling is often a major focus of Adlerian therapy.
Another important idea in Adlerian theory, as described by the Alfred Adler Institute, is the concept of the “aggressive drive”. This concept doesn’t necessarily mean aggression in the usual sense of hostility (although that’s one way it can manifest). Instead, Adler meant something more like assertiveness or effort. He believed that people have an inherent drive toward the ideal selves or perfect lives they imagine.
Adlerian therapy may also focus on the process of “compensation”, in which individuals struggle to make up for their feelings of insecurity, incompleteness, or inadequacy. The “superiority complex” is one possible form of compensation in which a person develops an inflated idea of their own abilities as a reaction to feelings of limitation.
What are techniques psychotherapists can use in Adlerian therapy?
Adlerian therapists may employ a variety of techniques as part of the therapeutic process, including:
- Cultivating a sense of collaboration between patient and therapist
- Encouraging patients to reflect on their early experiences and the feelings they provoked
- Gathering a broad range of information about the client’s background, family dynamics, early memories, and life history
- Encouraging a patient to be optimistic about the possibility of positive change
- Teaching clients to observe their behavior and notice repetitive patterns
- Highlighting the negative consequences of a patient’s counterproductive behaviors
- Asking patients to consider their triggers for positive and negative feelings
- Roleplaying situations about which the client is anxious or uncertain how to act
- Having clients talk about their actions and thoughts as though they were describing someone else (to encourage more objective awareness of their behavior)
- Encouraging patients to think about what they’re trying to achieve and reframe or redirect mistaken goals when necessary
What are the basic mistakes in Adlerian psychotherapy?
In the framework of individual psychology, “basic mistakes” are a patient’s misconceptions about themselves or the world. Adler believed that the negative or destructive aspects of a person’s lifestyle could often be traced back to inaccurate beliefs formed early in their childhoods.
Examples of basic mistakes could include things like “If you don’t control other people, they’ll control you” or “People will only love me if I’m useful to them”. Many of the techniques Adlerian therapists use in treatment may be intended to help clients recognize and correct these errors.
What are the drawbacks of Adlerian psychotherapy?
While many patients find an Alderian approach to therapy helpful, it may have downsides in some cases.
One is the amount of time required. Adlerian psychotherapy places a heavy emphasis on the need to build up a supportive, trusting relationship between the client and the therapist. It may take quite a few sessions to achieve this sense of comfort and security. As a result, effective treatment can take longer than more structured methods of therapy.
Another possible drawback is the tendency of Adlerian therapy to focus on a patient’s family dynamics and formative childhood experiences. This could make it less effective for people who have less ability to recall detailed childhood memories. Clients who don’t wish to revisit their family histories may also feel uncomfortable with this method.
The Adlerian approach also does not have as robust an evidence base as some other forms of psychotherapy. As the editors of the Journal of Individual Psychology noted in 2018, practitioners of this therapeutic method have not yet developed a core therapeutic strategy capable of being rigorously tested. This may make it harder to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of Adlerian therapy compared to more standardized methods like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
What are Adlerian encouragement techniques?
Many of the common techniques in Alderian psychotherapy are intended to encourage patients to believe they are capable of effective action and positive change. Here are a few of these methods of encouragement:
- Active and reflective listening
- Communicating confidence in the patient
- Suggesting ways for clients to see the humorous side of things
- Displaying warmth toward the client
- Emphasizing the client’s strengths and resources
- Validating the patient’s goals when they’re appropriate
- Prompting reflection on whether self-limiting beliefs are accurate
- Focusing on a patient’s efforts rather than outcomes
What are Adlerian interventions?
The term “Adlerian interventions” can refer to any type of psychological treatment based on the principles of individual psychology. Many of these methods are intended as brief courses of treatment aimed at addressing specific difficulties or helping clients improve in specific types of daily functioning.
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