Alfred Adlers Theory - Essay Example

Alfred Adler’s theory affiliation Adler’s life Alfred Adler lived between 1870 and 1937. He was a world renowned psychiatrist and philosopher. He stressed the need to understand people within their social contexts. He began addressing the issues in the early 1900s. His main focus in the time was the influence of order of birth, equality, parent education, holism of individuals and life style of those that are in a community (Carlson, Watts & Maniacci, 2006). His revolutionary observation triggered a life full of research as he was dedicated to understanding the behavior of people. He called this individual psychology. He came up with ideas that have been developed to form basic for most contemporary works. The theories that he came up with include Reality Therapy, Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Theory, Holistic Therapy and family therapy. Alfred Adler was one of the earliest people to utilize the short time they had to mainly focus on solutions that were oriented and mainly focused to psychotherapy. In his developments, he mainly revolved in the way people live and interact in the society (Carlson, Watts & Maniacci, 2006). Struggles There are struggles that he underwent when he was carrying out his researches and theories. After the development of first theory that was on holistic theory, the analysis that was carried out in his books and the lectures that he gave to the general public revealed that there was uncommon understanding that was linked to mental disorder. When in his youth, he was involved in many accidents and illness and these are the factors that encourage him to come up with theories such as organ inferiority. The encouragements that drove him are those that made him feel that he was capable of doing anything. He appreciated the fact and acted in a corporate way to achieve the goals that were set. He thought that when one is encouraged, there is always giving up, competing or withdrawing from activities that are for great help. In him he did not believe in discouragement and when in the situation, he would not give up or withdraw from what he was doing. In the situations he also would find ways of encouragement, social interest and respect that made him feel more satisfied and optimistic. Alfred Adler’s theory The theories that he came up with include Reality Therapy, Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Theory, Holistic Therapy and family therapy. In organ ferocity theory, he believed that each individual in a society has a week area in the body. This tends to be the area where illness always occurs in the individual. According to him, to some degree, every emotion that one has finds expression in the body. According to the inferiority theory that he developed, he thought that every individual has a feeling of being inferior. Those that feel inferior through his theory will have to work upwards with the aim of solving the problems successfully. Inferiority complex prevents one from doing so. Those that are healthy in the society will also strive to overcome inferiority through involving in activities in the society. Through this, one is seen to be concerned about the welfare of his or hers and also to the others leading to development of good feeling of self-assurance and self-worth. He also brings out that some people in the society are concerned with selfishness more than the social interests that are gained in the society. Those that are selfish always express the character to refuse cooperation, dominate and wanting to take without being ready to give to others in the society (Carlson, Watts & Maniacci, 2006). From these responses that he considered to be unhealthy, one is able to develop an inferior or superior complex. Superior complex in this situation is always developed to cover the inferior complex. Those with the superior complex hide doubts that may arise due to the abilities that they have. Adler developed the theories of personalities with basing his arguments to some factors. The basing that were in the theory were inferior feelings, inferiority multifaceted, determined in the society for advantage, individual’s lifestyle and that intended to live, social interest of a person, family constellation, imagined finalism, an individual’s imaginative self, manly protest, clarification of dreams that one has and the philosophy of psychotherapy. The theory that was developed by Adler has been proved and used in several instances (Slavik & Carlson, 2006). The theory mainly has applied to the growth and development of a child. He believed that a child misbehaving in a society is one who is discouraging to the community and to the parents. Helping children to feel significant in the community and valued in the community is a good form of upbringing as they will be able to cope up with difficulties in the behaviors. In his development of the theory, he mainly revolved in the way people live and interact in the society Psychology that was developed by Adler focused on the efforts that are put up by the people to compensate for their self-perceived inferiority to others in the community. The feelings can be derived from the activities and the position in which one is in the society. The experiences are those that consider previous experiences, physical condition and defect that occurred, family position of an individual in the society and lack of feelings that one is able to portray towards others in the society (Slavik & Carlson, 2006). His focus also misses in understanding the private beliefs that people have in their lifestyle. These are mainly those which are created in the childhood stage. Lifestyle is the main determinant for the reference that an individual has in terms of their behavior, interest and private view, the view of the others and general view of the world. The earlier life is viewed, examining the behaviors and patterns that are in the society. This makes one try to gain significance and belonging that grow and change that occur. Factors that are considered in psychology according to Adler are concerned with unity of individuals, goal orientation, self-determination and uniqueness, social context, the feeling of the community, mental health and treatment (Slavik & Carlson, 2006). All these combinations will lead to the attitudes that one develop towards others in the society resulting to superiority or inferiority. References Carlson, J., Watts, R., & Maniacci, M. (2006). Adlerian therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Slavik, S., & Carlson, J. (2006). Readings in the theory of individual psychology. New York: Routledge. Read More