SlideShare une entreprise Scribd logo
1  sur  33
Adlerian Theory of
Personality
 Adler

stressed a positive view of human nature. He
believed that individuals can control their fate. They
can do this in part by trying to help others (social
interest). How they do this can be understood
through analyzing their lifestyle. Early interactions
with family members, peers, and teachers help to
determine the role of inferiority and superiority in
their lives.

EPSY 541
View of Human Nature
A

Person’s Perceptions are based on His or Her View of Reality
(Phenomenology)

◦ Adler believed that we “construct” our reality according to our
own way of looking at the world.
◦ “I am convinced that a person’s behavior springs from this idea…
because our senses do not see the world, we apprehend it.”
(Adler, 1933/1964)

EPSY 541
View of Human Nature


Each person must be viewed as an individual from a
holistic perspective.
 Adler suggested that dividing the person up into parts
or forces (i.e., id, ego, and superego) was
counterproductive because it was mechanistic and
missed the individual essence of each person.
 In his view, understanding the whole person is different
than understanding different aspects of his life or
personality.

EPSY 541
View of Human Nature
 Human

Behavior is Goal Oriented (Teleological)

◦ People move toward self-selected goals. “The life of the human soul is not a
‘being’ but a ‘becoming.’” (Adler, 1963a)
◦ This idea requires a very different way of viewing humans than the idea that
behavior is “caused” by some internal or external forces or rewards and
punishments.
◦ Understanding the causes of behavior is not as important as understanding
the goal to which a person is directed. Since we have evolved as social
creatures, the most common goal is to belong.

EPSY 541
Determinism
◦ Moving through life, the individual is
confronted with alternatives.
◦ Human beings are creative, choosing, selfdetermined decision-makers free to chose
the goals they want to pursue.

EPSY 541
View of Human Nature
Conscious

and unconscious are both in the
service of the individual, who uses them to
further personal goals (Adler, 1963a)

EPSY 541
View of Human Nature
 Striving

for superiority to overcome basic inferiority is a
normal part of life.
◦ Mosak(2000) reports that Adler and others have
referred to this central human striving in a number of
ways: completion, perfection, superiority, selfrealization, self-actualization, competence, and mastery.

EPSY 541
View of Human Nature


Social Interest and a Positive involvement in the
community are hallmarks of a healthy personality.
 All behavior occurs in a social context. Humans are
born into an environment with which they must
engage in reciprocal relations.
 Adler believed that social interest was innate but that
it needed to be nurtured in a family where
cooperation and trust were important values.

EPSY 541
Adlerian Core Concepts and Explanation of
Behavior
Style

of life or Lifestyle

◦ A way of seeking to fulfill particular goals that individuals set in
their lives. Individuals use their own patterns of beliefs, cognitive
styles, and behaviors as a way of expressing their style of life.
Often style of life or lifestyle is a means for overcoming feeling of
inferiority.

EPSY 541
Four areas of lifestyle:
1. The self-concept

◦ the convictions about who I am.
 2. The self-ideal
◦ convictions about what I should be.
 3. The Weltbild, or “picture of the world”
◦ convictions about the not-self and what the world demands
of me.
 4. The ethical convictions
◦ The personal “right-wrong” code.

EPSY 541
AdlerianExplanationof Behavior
(Theory of Personality)
Family

Constellation and Atmosphere:

◦ The number and birth order, as well as the personality
characteristics of members of a family. Important in determining
lifestyle.
◦ The family and reciprocal relationships with siblings and parents
determine how a person finds a place in the family and what he
learns about finding a place in the world.

EPSY 541
Adlerian Theory of Personality
Social

Interest:

◦ The caring and concern for the welfare of others that
can serve to guide people's behavior throughout their
lives. It is a sense of being a part of society and taking
responsibility to improve it.

EPSY 541
Adlerian Theory of Personality
Superiority

◦ The drive to become superior allows
individuals to become skilled, competent, and
creative.

EPSY 541
Adlerian Theory of Personality
Superiority

Complex:

◦ a means of masking feelings of inferiority by displaying
boastful, self-centered, or arrogant superiority in
order to overcome feelings of inferiority.

EPSY 541
Adlerian Theory of Personality
Inferiority:

◦ Feelings of inadequacy and incompetence that
develop during infancy and serve as the basis to strive
for superiority in order to overcome feelings of
inferiority.

EPSY 541
Adlerian Theory of Personality
Inferiority

complex:

◦ A strong and pervasive belief that one is not as good
as other people. It is usually an exaggerated sense of
feelings of inadequacy and insecurity that may result
in being defensive or anxious.

EPSY 541
Adlerian explanation of Behavior
Birth

order:

◦ The idea that place in the family constellation (such as
being the youngest child) can have an impact on one's
later personality and functioning.

EPSY 541
Adlerian Theory of Personality
Early

recollections:

◦ Memories of actual incidents that clients recall from
their childhood. Adlerians use this information to
make inferences about current behavior of children
or adults.

EPSY 541
Adlerian explanation of Behavior
Basic

mistakes:

◦ Self-defeating aspects of individuals' lifestyle that may
affect their later behavior are called basic mistakes.
Such mistakes often include avoidance of others,
seeking power, a desperate need for security, or
faulty values.

EPSY 541
Adlerian Theory of Personality
Assets:

◦ Assessing the strengths of individuals' lifestyle
is an important part of lifestyle assessment, as
is assessment or early recollections and basic
mistakes.

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
A

lifestyle analysis helps the Adlerian therapist to gain insights into
client problems by determining the clients' basic mistakes and
assets. These insights are based on assessing family constellation,
dreams, and social interest. To help the client change, Adlerians
may use a number of active techniques that focus to a great
extent on changing beliefs and reorienting the client's view of
situations and relationships.

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
 Life

tasks:

◦ There are five basic obligations and opportunities:
occupation, society, love, self development, and
spiritual development. These are used to help
determine therapeutic goals.

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
 Interpretation:

◦ Adlerians express insights to their clients that
relate to clients' goals. Interpretations often focus
on the family constellation and social interest.

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
 Immediacy:

◦ Communicating the experience of the therapist to the client
about what is happening in the moment.
 Encouragement:

◦ An important therapeutic technique that is used to build a
relationship and to foster client change. Supporting clients in
changing beliefs and behaviors is a part of encouragement.

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
 Acting

as if:

◦ In this technique, clients are asked to "act as if" a
behavior will be effective. Clients are encouraged
to try a new role, the way they might try on new
clothing.

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
 Catching

oneself:
◦ In this technique, patients learn to notice that they are
performing behaviors which they wish to change,. When they
catch themselves, they may have an "Aha" response.

 Aha

response:
◦ Developing a sudden insight into a solution to a problem, as
one becomes aware to one's beliefs and behaviors.

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
 Avoiding

the tar baby:

◦ By not falling into a trap that the client sets by using
faulty assumptions, the therapist encourages new
behavior and "avoids the tar baby" (getting stuck in
the client's perception of the problem).

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
 The

Question:

◦ Asking "what would be different if you were well?"
was a means Adler used to determine if a person's
problem was physiological or psychological

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE


Paradoxical intention:
 A therapeutic strategy in which clients are instructed to engage and
exaggerate behaviors that they seek to change. By prescribing the symptom,
therapists make clients more aware of their situation and help them seek to
change. By prescribing the symptom, therapists make clients more aware of
their situation and help them achieve distance from the symptoms. For
example, a client who is afraid of mice may be asked to exaggerate his fear
of mice, or a client who hoards paper may be asked to exaggerate that
behavior so that living becomes difficult. In this way individuals can become
more aware of and more resistant from their symptoms.

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
 Spitting

in the client's soup:
◦ Making comments to the client to make behaviors
less attractive or desirable.

 Homework:

◦ Specific behaviors or activities that clients are asked
to do after a therapy session

EPSY 541
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE
 Push-button

technique:

◦ Designed to show patients how they can create whatever
feelings they what by thinking about them, the push-button
technique asks clients to remember a pleasant incident that
they have experienced, become aware of feelings
connected to it, and then switch to an unpleasant image
and those feelings. Thus clients learn that they have the
power to change their own feelings.

EPSY 541
Thank you 

EPSY 541

Contenu connexe

Tendances

Adlerian psychotherapy
Adlerian psychotherapyAdlerian psychotherapy
Adlerian psychotherapy
anjunair8211
 
alfred adler(adlerian theory)
alfred adler(adlerian theory)alfred adler(adlerian theory)
alfred adler(adlerian theory)
jelaine Grabador
 
Contributions of Karen Horney
Contributions of Karen HorneyContributions of Karen Horney
Contributions of Karen Horney
Priya Verma
 
Person centered therapy
Person centered therapyPerson centered therapy
Person centered therapy
anilkumarani
 

Tendances (20)

Personality theory ppt ch04 adler individual psychology
Personality theory ppt ch04 adler individual psychologyPersonality theory ppt ch04 adler individual psychology
Personality theory ppt ch04 adler individual psychology
 
Jung's analytical psychology
Jung's analytical psychologyJung's analytical psychology
Jung's analytical psychology
 
Fromm's humanistic psychoanalysis
Fromm's humanistic psychoanalysisFromm's humanistic psychoanalysis
Fromm's humanistic psychoanalysis
 
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Rational Emotive Behavior TherapyRational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
 
Psychoanalytic social theory
Psychoanalytic social theoryPsychoanalytic social theory
Psychoanalytic social theory
 
George Kelly's Personal Construct Theory
George Kelly's Personal Construct TheoryGeorge Kelly's Personal Construct Theory
George Kelly's Personal Construct Theory
 
Object Relation Theory - Melanie Klein
Object Relation Theory - Melanie KleinObject Relation Theory - Melanie Klein
Object Relation Theory - Melanie Klein
 
Experimental Psychology
Experimental PsychologyExperimental Psychology
Experimental Psychology
 
Adlerian therapy
Adlerian therapyAdlerian therapy
Adlerian therapy
 
Adlerian psychotherapy
Adlerian psychotherapyAdlerian psychotherapy
Adlerian psychotherapy
 
Hans Eysenck theory of Personality
Hans Eysenck theory of PersonalityHans Eysenck theory of Personality
Hans Eysenck theory of Personality
 
Gordon allport psychology of individual
Gordon allport psychology of individualGordon allport psychology of individual
Gordon allport psychology of individual
 
Erich fromm psychosocial theory
Erich fromm psychosocial theoryErich fromm psychosocial theory
Erich fromm psychosocial theory
 
Alfred Adler with example
Alfred Adler with exampleAlfred Adler with example
Alfred Adler with example
 
alfred adler(adlerian theory)
alfred adler(adlerian theory)alfred adler(adlerian theory)
alfred adler(adlerian theory)
 
Contributions of Karen Horney
Contributions of Karen HorneyContributions of Karen Horney
Contributions of Karen Horney
 
Person centered-approach
Person centered-approachPerson centered-approach
Person centered-approach
 
Cattell's Theory of Personality
Cattell's Theory of PersonalityCattell's Theory of Personality
Cattell's Theory of Personality
 
Sigmund Freud and The Psychoanalytic Therapy 101
Sigmund Freud and The Psychoanalytic Therapy 101Sigmund Freud and The Psychoanalytic Therapy 101
Sigmund Freud and The Psychoanalytic Therapy 101
 
Person centered therapy
Person centered therapyPerson centered therapy
Person centered therapy
 

En vedette

Theories of personality
Theories of personalityTheories of personality
Theories of personality
jenne531
 
Octapase culture
Octapase cultureOctapase culture
Octapase culture
littolibin
 
Theory of personality (altntv)
Theory of personality (altntv)Theory of personality (altntv)
Theory of personality (altntv)
Vivie Chabie
 
Carl rogers ppt
Carl rogers pptCarl rogers ppt
Carl rogers ppt
yosumama
 

En vedette (20)

Alfred adler
Alfred adlerAlfred adler
Alfred adler
 
Alfred adler
Alfred adlerAlfred adler
Alfred adler
 
Theories of personality
Theories of personalityTheories of personality
Theories of personality
 
Collective Bargaining
Collective BargainingCollective Bargaining
Collective Bargaining
 
Octapase culture
Octapase cultureOctapase culture
Octapase culture
 
Lecture strategic management control
Lecture strategic management controlLecture strategic management control
Lecture strategic management control
 
Adler
AdlerAdler
Adler
 
07 - Adler
07 - Adler07 - Adler
07 - Adler
 
Theory of personality (altntv)
Theory of personality (altntv)Theory of personality (altntv)
Theory of personality (altntv)
 
Existential psychotherapy
Existential psychotherapyExistential psychotherapy
Existential psychotherapy
 
A study on OCTAPACE culture
A study on OCTAPACE cultureA study on OCTAPACE culture
A study on OCTAPACE culture
 
EXISTENTIAL THERAPY
EXISTENTIAL THERAPYEXISTENTIAL THERAPY
EXISTENTIAL THERAPY
 
Person-Centered Therapy
Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
 
Existentialism
ExistentialismExistentialism
Existentialism
 
Humanistic Theories: Carl Rogers
Humanistic Theories: Carl RogersHumanistic Theories: Carl Rogers
Humanistic Theories: Carl Rogers
 
Person Centered Therapy
Person Centered TherapyPerson Centered Therapy
Person Centered Therapy
 
Adlerian Theory
Adlerian TheoryAdlerian Theory
Adlerian Theory
 
Carl rogers ppt
Carl rogers pptCarl rogers ppt
Carl rogers ppt
 
Personality theories
Personality theoriesPersonality theories
Personality theories
 
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
 

Similaire à Adlerian theory of personality

Rebt Albert Ellis
Rebt Albert EllisRebt Albert Ellis
Rebt Albert Ellis
guest841f96
 
V. SETTINGS PROCESSES AND METHODS OF COUNSELING.pptx
V. SETTINGS PROCESSES AND METHODS OF COUNSELING.pptxV. SETTINGS PROCESSES AND METHODS OF COUNSELING.pptx
V. SETTINGS PROCESSES AND METHODS OF COUNSELING.pptx
JuliusPrado1
 

Similaire à Adlerian theory of personality (20)

Alfred adler contributions
Alfred adler contributionsAlfred adler contributions
Alfred adler contributions
 
adleriantherapy-150212092051-conversion-gate02.pdf
adleriantherapy-150212092051-conversion-gate02.pdfadleriantherapy-150212092051-conversion-gate02.pdf
adleriantherapy-150212092051-conversion-gate02.pdf
 
Theories of Personality
Theories of PersonalityTheories of Personality
Theories of Personality
 
SELF unit 1 beh (new one).pptx
SELF unit 1 beh (new one).pptxSELF unit 1 beh (new one).pptx
SELF unit 1 beh (new one).pptx
 
Organization behavior
Organization behaviorOrganization behavior
Organization behavior
 
Personality and its theories
Personality and its theoriesPersonality and its theories
Personality and its theories
 
DIASS lesson 5.pptx
DIASS lesson 5.pptxDIASS lesson 5.pptx
DIASS lesson 5.pptx
 
532658944-NSTP-CWTS-MODULE-3.pdf
532658944-NSTP-CWTS-MODULE-3.pdf532658944-NSTP-CWTS-MODULE-3.pdf
532658944-NSTP-CWTS-MODULE-3.pdf
 
Allport's Theory of Personality
Allport's Theory of PersonalityAllport's Theory of Personality
Allport's Theory of Personality
 
Counseling Theories
Counseling TheoriesCounseling Theories
Counseling Theories
 
ADLERIAN PSYCHOTHERAPY.pdf
ADLERIAN PSYCHOTHERAPY.pdfADLERIAN PSYCHOTHERAPY.pdf
ADLERIAN PSYCHOTHERAPY.pdf
 
Attitude and prejudice
Attitude and prejudiceAttitude and prejudice
Attitude and prejudice
 
Social psychological paradigm
Social psychological paradigmSocial psychological paradigm
Social psychological paradigm
 
Environment Effects Personality
Environment Effects PersonalityEnvironment Effects Personality
Environment Effects Personality
 
Theoretical approaches to psychiatric nursing care
Theoretical approaches to psychiatric nursing careTheoretical approaches to psychiatric nursing care
Theoretical approaches to psychiatric nursing care
 
VALUE EDUCATION_Unit_IV.pptx
VALUE EDUCATION_Unit_IV.pptxVALUE EDUCATION_Unit_IV.pptx
VALUE EDUCATION_Unit_IV.pptx
 
Theories of personality
Theories of personalityTheories of personality
Theories of personality
 
Theories of personality
Theories of personalityTheories of personality
Theories of personality
 
Rebt Albert Ellis
Rebt Albert EllisRebt Albert Ellis
Rebt Albert Ellis
 
V. SETTINGS PROCESSES AND METHODS OF COUNSELING.pptx
V. SETTINGS PROCESSES AND METHODS OF COUNSELING.pptxV. SETTINGS PROCESSES AND METHODS OF COUNSELING.pptx
V. SETTINGS PROCESSES AND METHODS OF COUNSELING.pptx
 

Plus de Mejirushi Kanji (14)

Program media
Program mediaProgram media
Program media
 
Interactionist approach
Interactionist approachInteractionist approach
Interactionist approach
 
Crisis Theory
Crisis TheoryCrisis Theory
Crisis Theory
 
Rigths of accused
Rigths of accusedRigths of accused
Rigths of accused
 
Kahalagahan ng Pagsasalita
Kahalagahan ng PagsasalitaKahalagahan ng Pagsasalita
Kahalagahan ng Pagsasalita
 
Kohlberg Theory of Moral Development
Kohlberg Theory of Moral DevelopmentKohlberg Theory of Moral Development
Kohlberg Theory of Moral Development
 
Erik Erikson Development Stages
Erik Erikson Development StagesErik Erikson Development Stages
Erik Erikson Development Stages
 
Study habit how to unlock and improve
Study habit how to unlock and improveStudy habit how to unlock and improve
Study habit how to unlock and improve
 
Managing stress
Managing stressManaging stress
Managing stress
 
Developing Student's Learning Skills
Developing Student's Learning SkillsDeveloping Student's Learning Skills
Developing Student's Learning Skills
 
Right Based Approach
Right Based ApproachRight Based Approach
Right Based Approach
 
Stages of Prenatal Development
Stages of Prenatal DevelopmentStages of Prenatal Development
Stages of Prenatal Development
 
Overview of Child Development
Overview of Child DevelopmentOverview of Child Development
Overview of Child Development
 
Growth & development
Growth & developmentGrowth & development
Growth & development
 

Dernier

The basics of sentences session 3pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 3pptx.pptxThe basics of sentences session 3pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 3pptx.pptx
heathfieldcps1
 

Dernier (20)

Asian American Pacific Islander Month DDSD 2024.pptx
Asian American Pacific Islander Month DDSD 2024.pptxAsian American Pacific Islander Month DDSD 2024.pptx
Asian American Pacific Islander Month DDSD 2024.pptx
 
Basic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptx
Basic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptxBasic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptx
Basic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptx
 
Web & Social Media Analytics Previous Year Question Paper.pdf
Web & Social Media Analytics Previous Year Question Paper.pdfWeb & Social Media Analytics Previous Year Question Paper.pdf
Web & Social Media Analytics Previous Year Question Paper.pdf
 
Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting: The Basics
Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting: The BasicsIntroduction to Nonprofit Accounting: The Basics
Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting: The Basics
 
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptxICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
 
Application orientated numerical on hev.ppt
Application orientated numerical on hev.pptApplication orientated numerical on hev.ppt
Application orientated numerical on hev.ppt
 
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
 
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdfHoldier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
 
Explore beautiful and ugly buildings. Mathematics helps us create beautiful d...
Explore beautiful and ugly buildings. Mathematics helps us create beautiful d...Explore beautiful and ugly buildings. Mathematics helps us create beautiful d...
Explore beautiful and ugly buildings. Mathematics helps us create beautiful d...
 
Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median and Mode
Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median and ModeMeasures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median and Mode
Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median and Mode
 
On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan FellowsOn National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
 
Energy Resources. ( B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II) Natural Resources
Energy Resources. ( B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II) Natural ResourcesEnergy Resources. ( B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II) Natural Resources
Energy Resources. ( B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II) Natural Resources
 
2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx
2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx
2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx
 
Unit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptx
Unit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptxUnit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptx
Unit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptx
 
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
 
The basics of sentences session 3pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 3pptx.pptxThe basics of sentences session 3pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 3pptx.pptx
 
PROCESS RECORDING FORMAT.docx
PROCESS      RECORDING        FORMAT.docxPROCESS      RECORDING        FORMAT.docx
PROCESS RECORDING FORMAT.docx
 
ICT role in 21st century education and it's challenges.
ICT role in 21st century education and it's challenges.ICT role in 21st century education and it's challenges.
ICT role in 21st century education and it's challenges.
 
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptxUnit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
 
microwave assisted reaction. General introduction
microwave assisted reaction. General introductionmicrowave assisted reaction. General introduction
microwave assisted reaction. General introduction
 

Adlerian theory of personality

  • 2.  Adler stressed a positive view of human nature. He believed that individuals can control their fate. They can do this in part by trying to help others (social interest). How they do this can be understood through analyzing their lifestyle. Early interactions with family members, peers, and teachers help to determine the role of inferiority and superiority in their lives. EPSY 541
  • 3. View of Human Nature A Person’s Perceptions are based on His or Her View of Reality (Phenomenology) ◦ Adler believed that we “construct” our reality according to our own way of looking at the world. ◦ “I am convinced that a person’s behavior springs from this idea… because our senses do not see the world, we apprehend it.” (Adler, 1933/1964) EPSY 541
  • 4. View of Human Nature  Each person must be viewed as an individual from a holistic perspective.  Adler suggested that dividing the person up into parts or forces (i.e., id, ego, and superego) was counterproductive because it was mechanistic and missed the individual essence of each person.  In his view, understanding the whole person is different than understanding different aspects of his life or personality. EPSY 541
  • 5. View of Human Nature  Human Behavior is Goal Oriented (Teleological) ◦ People move toward self-selected goals. “The life of the human soul is not a ‘being’ but a ‘becoming.’” (Adler, 1963a) ◦ This idea requires a very different way of viewing humans than the idea that behavior is “caused” by some internal or external forces or rewards and punishments. ◦ Understanding the causes of behavior is not as important as understanding the goal to which a person is directed. Since we have evolved as social creatures, the most common goal is to belong. EPSY 541
  • 6. Determinism ◦ Moving through life, the individual is confronted with alternatives. ◦ Human beings are creative, choosing, selfdetermined decision-makers free to chose the goals they want to pursue. EPSY 541
  • 7. View of Human Nature Conscious and unconscious are both in the service of the individual, who uses them to further personal goals (Adler, 1963a) EPSY 541
  • 8. View of Human Nature  Striving for superiority to overcome basic inferiority is a normal part of life. ◦ Mosak(2000) reports that Adler and others have referred to this central human striving in a number of ways: completion, perfection, superiority, selfrealization, self-actualization, competence, and mastery. EPSY 541
  • 9. View of Human Nature  Social Interest and a Positive involvement in the community are hallmarks of a healthy personality.  All behavior occurs in a social context. Humans are born into an environment with which they must engage in reciprocal relations.  Adler believed that social interest was innate but that it needed to be nurtured in a family where cooperation and trust were important values. EPSY 541
  • 10. Adlerian Core Concepts and Explanation of Behavior Style of life or Lifestyle ◦ A way of seeking to fulfill particular goals that individuals set in their lives. Individuals use their own patterns of beliefs, cognitive styles, and behaviors as a way of expressing their style of life. Often style of life or lifestyle is a means for overcoming feeling of inferiority. EPSY 541
  • 11. Four areas of lifestyle: 1. The self-concept ◦ the convictions about who I am.  2. The self-ideal ◦ convictions about what I should be.  3. The Weltbild, or “picture of the world” ◦ convictions about the not-self and what the world demands of me.  4. The ethical convictions ◦ The personal “right-wrong” code. EPSY 541
  • 12. AdlerianExplanationof Behavior (Theory of Personality) Family Constellation and Atmosphere: ◦ The number and birth order, as well as the personality characteristics of members of a family. Important in determining lifestyle. ◦ The family and reciprocal relationships with siblings and parents determine how a person finds a place in the family and what he learns about finding a place in the world. EPSY 541
  • 13. Adlerian Theory of Personality Social Interest: ◦ The caring and concern for the welfare of others that can serve to guide people's behavior throughout their lives. It is a sense of being a part of society and taking responsibility to improve it. EPSY 541
  • 14. Adlerian Theory of Personality Superiority ◦ The drive to become superior allows individuals to become skilled, competent, and creative. EPSY 541
  • 15. Adlerian Theory of Personality Superiority Complex: ◦ a means of masking feelings of inferiority by displaying boastful, self-centered, or arrogant superiority in order to overcome feelings of inferiority. EPSY 541
  • 16. Adlerian Theory of Personality Inferiority: ◦ Feelings of inadequacy and incompetence that develop during infancy and serve as the basis to strive for superiority in order to overcome feelings of inferiority. EPSY 541
  • 17. Adlerian Theory of Personality Inferiority complex: ◦ A strong and pervasive belief that one is not as good as other people. It is usually an exaggerated sense of feelings of inadequacy and insecurity that may result in being defensive or anxious. EPSY 541
  • 18. Adlerian explanation of Behavior Birth order: ◦ The idea that place in the family constellation (such as being the youngest child) can have an impact on one's later personality and functioning. EPSY 541
  • 19. Adlerian Theory of Personality Early recollections: ◦ Memories of actual incidents that clients recall from their childhood. Adlerians use this information to make inferences about current behavior of children or adults. EPSY 541
  • 20. Adlerian explanation of Behavior Basic mistakes: ◦ Self-defeating aspects of individuals' lifestyle that may affect their later behavior are called basic mistakes. Such mistakes often include avoidance of others, seeking power, a desperate need for security, or faulty values. EPSY 541
  • 21. Adlerian Theory of Personality Assets: ◦ Assessing the strengths of individuals' lifestyle is an important part of lifestyle assessment, as is assessment or early recollections and basic mistakes. EPSY 541
  • 22. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE A lifestyle analysis helps the Adlerian therapist to gain insights into client problems by determining the clients' basic mistakes and assets. These insights are based on assessing family constellation, dreams, and social interest. To help the client change, Adlerians may use a number of active techniques that focus to a great extent on changing beliefs and reorienting the client's view of situations and relationships. EPSY 541
  • 23. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  Life tasks: ◦ There are five basic obligations and opportunities: occupation, society, love, self development, and spiritual development. These are used to help determine therapeutic goals. EPSY 541
  • 24. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  Interpretation: ◦ Adlerians express insights to their clients that relate to clients' goals. Interpretations often focus on the family constellation and social interest. EPSY 541
  • 25. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  Immediacy: ◦ Communicating the experience of the therapist to the client about what is happening in the moment.  Encouragement: ◦ An important therapeutic technique that is used to build a relationship and to foster client change. Supporting clients in changing beliefs and behaviors is a part of encouragement. EPSY 541
  • 26. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  Acting as if: ◦ In this technique, clients are asked to "act as if" a behavior will be effective. Clients are encouraged to try a new role, the way they might try on new clothing. EPSY 541
  • 27. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  Catching oneself: ◦ In this technique, patients learn to notice that they are performing behaviors which they wish to change,. When they catch themselves, they may have an "Aha" response.  Aha response: ◦ Developing a sudden insight into a solution to a problem, as one becomes aware to one's beliefs and behaviors. EPSY 541
  • 28. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  Avoiding the tar baby: ◦ By not falling into a trap that the client sets by using faulty assumptions, the therapist encourages new behavior and "avoids the tar baby" (getting stuck in the client's perception of the problem). EPSY 541
  • 29. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  The Question: ◦ Asking "what would be different if you were well?" was a means Adler used to determine if a person's problem was physiological or psychological EPSY 541
  • 30. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  Paradoxical intention:  A therapeutic strategy in which clients are instructed to engage and exaggerate behaviors that they seek to change. By prescribing the symptom, therapists make clients more aware of their situation and help them seek to change. By prescribing the symptom, therapists make clients more aware of their situation and help them achieve distance from the symptoms. For example, a client who is afraid of mice may be asked to exaggerate his fear of mice, or a client who hoards paper may be asked to exaggerate that behavior so that living becomes difficult. In this way individuals can become more aware of and more resistant from their symptoms. EPSY 541
  • 31. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  Spitting in the client's soup: ◦ Making comments to the client to make behaviors less attractive or desirable.  Homework: ◦ Specific behaviors or activities that clients are asked to do after a therapy session EPSY 541
  • 32. TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE  Push-button technique: ◦ Designed to show patients how they can create whatever feelings they what by thinking about them, the push-button technique asks clients to remember a pleasant incident that they have experienced, become aware of feelings connected to it, and then switch to an unpleasant image and those feelings. Thus clients learn that they have the power to change their own feelings. EPSY 541