Understanding Life: An Introduction to the Psychology of Alfred Adler

201 Pages·1997·6.38 MB·English

by  Alfred Adler

Alfred Adler (1870-1937) was born in a suburb of
Vienna, the son of a Jewish grain merchant. He became a medical
doctor and was one of the first to take a serious interest in the
theories of Sigmund Freud, recognizing that they opened up a new
phase in the development of psychiatry and psychology. He joined
Freud's discussion group and in 1910 became President of the
Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. Shortly afterwards the divergence
between his views and those of Freud and Jung led to his resignation.
It is clear both that Adler's work is deeply indebted to his
one-time colleague, and that from the beginning he had an
independent approach to formulating the problems of human
psychology and finding solutions to them. In 1912 he formed the
Society for Individual Psychology, which stressed the importance
of taking a broad and responsive view of the human personality,
rather than adherence to the strict scientific principles of the
Freudians. He died in 1937, while on a lecture tour of Scotland,
and his name is bracketed with those of Freud and Jung as one of
the three great fathers of modern psychotherapy.
Colin Brett is an Adlerian counsellor and former Training
Officer of the Adlerian Society of Great Britain. He currently
works as a freelance management consultant and Adlerian Coun-
sellor Trainer in both Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa. He
is the translator of Alfred Adler's Understanding Human Nature
and the editor of What Life Could Mean to You, both published
by Oneworld Publications, 1992.
by the same author
The Case of Miss R: The interpretation of a life story
The Education of Children
The Neurotic Constitution
The Patfern of life
The Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology
Problems of Neurosis: A book of case histories
Social Interest: A challenge to mankind
Understanding Human Nature
What 1i fe Could Mean to You
Understanding
Life
Alfred Adler
edited and with an introduction
by
Colin Brett
O N E W O R L D
O X F O R D
UNDERSTANDING LIFE
Oneworld Publications
(Sales and Editorial)
185 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 7AR
England
Oneworld Publications
(US Marketing Office)
PO Box 830,21 Broadway
Rockport, MA 01966
USA
First published as The Science of Living in 1927
O this edition Oneworld Publications 1997
All rights reserved.
Copyright under Berne Convention
A CIP record for this book is available
from the British Library
ISBN 1-85168-128-0
Printed and bound by WSOY, Finland
Cover design: Peter Maguire
Cover illustration: All M.C. Escher works O Cordon Art - Baarn - Holland.
All rights reserved.
NL08
contents
introduction IX
About this Book ix
Key Concepts of Individual Psychology xi
Adler's Work xvii
Adler: 'A Man Ahead of his Time' XX
Adler's Personality xxii
Individual Psychology in Practice xxiv
Therapeutic Education xxvi
1 . individual psychology - the science of living 1
Striving Towards a Goal 3
Ways of Seeing the World 5
Parental Influences 7
Birth Order 9
Exploring Childhood Memories 10
Private Logic 11
The Importance of Social Interest 14
Feelings and Emotions 15
The General Approach 16
2. the inferiority complex
Consciousness and Unconsciousness
Our Social Relationships
Language and Communication
Social Training
Overcoming Limitations
Feelings of Inferiority
3. the superiority complex
The Goal of Superiority
Avoiding Real Solutions
Superiority and Inferiority
Self-Interest
Boasting and Confidence
Healthy Ambition
4. the life style
Recognizing Life Style
The 'Normal' Life Style
The 'Maladjusted' Life Style
Methods of Diagnosis
Developing Social Feeling
Overcoming Depression and Fear
5. childhood memories
Discovering the Prototype
Types of Memories
Death in the Family
The Memories of Pampered Children
Specific Memories
Predictive Analysis
expressions of the life style
Body Language
Timidity
Moods
The Development of Personal Characteristics
Masters of our own Fate
Envy and Jealousy
The Masculine Protest
7. dreams
The Life of Dreams
The Purpose of Dreams
Dream Logic
Methods of Interpretation
Dreamers and Non-Dreamers
Sleep and Hypnotism
problem children
Principles of Education
Understanding Parents and Children
The Superiority Complex in Problem Children
Some Characteristics of Problem Children
Gifted Children
How to Encourage Children
Birth Order and Family Dynamics
9. social adjustment
The Social Context
Behavioural Problems
Adjusting to School
Facing the Three Tasks of Life
The Need to Build Character
10. social feeling and common sense
Social Usefulness
Hidden Complexes
Symptoms of Neurosis
A Case History
Providing Encouragement
1 I . intimate relationships
The Importance of Preparation
Equality of the Sexes
The Dynamics of Attraction
The Spoilt Child
Offering Advice
Mistaken Attitudes
Danger Signs
Marriage as a Social Task
1 2. sexuality and sexual problems
Fact and Superstition
Childhood Sexuality
The Life Style and Sexuality
A Criminal Case
Sexual Excess
1 3. conclusion
glossary of key terms
select bibliography
index
introduction
About this Book
First published in English in 1927, ten years before Adler's death,
Understanding Life covers the main principles of Individual
Psychology. This text is especially interesting to students of
Adler's method because it contains numerous examples to illus-
trate the theoretical points made. The connecting thread through-
out the book is the importance of having an understanding of
society's needs and our willingness to contribute usefully wher-
ever we can to the common weal. Readers will also find that
common sense plays a significant role in Adler's thinking. Indeed,
there is a story that, after he had held a lecture on his psychology,
the comment was made that everything he had said was common
sense. 'And what is wrong with common sense?' was the reply.
Adler was known to be an inspiring speaker but unfortunately