Individual psychology
Encyclopedia
Individual psychology is a term used specifically to refer to the psychological method or science founded by the Viennese psychiatrist
Alfred Adler
(Fall, Holden, & Marquis, 2002). The English
edition of Adler's work on the subject (1925) is a collection of papers and lectures given mainly in 1912-1914, and covers the whole range of human psychology in a single survey, intended to mirror the indivisible unity of the personality.
The concept of "individual psychology" was formulated in the process in which Adler broke away from the psychoanalytic school of Sigmund Freud
(Dinkmeyer, Pew, & Dinkmeyer, 1979). In this development, Adler did call his work "free psychoanalysis" for a time, but he later rejected the label of "psychoanalyst" (Hoffman, 1994). His method, involving a holistic approach to the study of character (Mosak & DiPietro, 2006), has been extremely influential in later 20th century counselling and psychiatric strategies (Oberst & Stewart, 2003).
The term "individual psychology" can also be used more generally to refer to what is more commonly known as differential psychology, or the psychology of individual differences. Usage of this term is likely to imply a more individualistic focus than is found in mainstream psychology of individual differences, where there is frequently a bias towards nomothetic
research.
The term differentiates Adler's approach entirely from Völkerpsychologie (Social psychology
), the culminating thesis of Wilhelm Wundt
down to 1920.
, the Freudian standpoint, to environmental factors. He gave special prominence to societal factors. According to him a person has to combat or confront three forces: societal, love-related, and vocational forces. These confrontations determine the final nature of a personality. Adler based his theories on the pre-adulthood development of a person. He laid stress on such areas as hated children, physical deformities at birth, birth order, etc.
Adlerian psychology shows parallels with the humanistic psychology
of Abraham Maslow
, who acknowledged Adler's influence on his own theories. Both individual psychology and humanistic psychology hold that the individual human being is the best determinant of his or her own needs, desires, interests, and growth.
Thus, the external factors are vital in character formation.
Examples of psychologists and therapists who could be called "individual psychologists" in the sense of being Adlerian
include Rudolf Dreikurs
and Henry Stein.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler was an Austrian medical doctor, psychotherapist, and founder of the school of individual psychology. In collaboration with Sigmund Freud and a small group of Freud's colleagues, Adler was among the co-founders of the psychoanalytic movement as a core member of the Vienna...
(Fall, Holden, & Marquis, 2002). The English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
edition of Adler's work on the subject (1925) is a collection of papers and lectures given mainly in 1912-1914, and covers the whole range of human psychology in a single survey, intended to mirror the indivisible unity of the personality.
The concept of "individual psychology" was formulated in the process in which Adler broke away from the psychoanalytic school of Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
(Dinkmeyer, Pew, & Dinkmeyer, 1979). In this development, Adler did call his work "free psychoanalysis" for a time, but he later rejected the label of "psychoanalyst" (Hoffman, 1994). His method, involving a holistic approach to the study of character (Mosak & DiPietro, 2006), has been extremely influential in later 20th century counselling and psychiatric strategies (Oberst & Stewart, 2003).
The term "individual psychology" can also be used more generally to refer to what is more commonly known as differential psychology, or the psychology of individual differences. Usage of this term is likely to imply a more individualistic focus than is found in mainstream psychology of individual differences, where there is frequently a bias towards nomothetic
Nomothetic
Nomothetic literally means "proposition of the law" and is used in philosophy , psychology, and law with differing meanings...
research.
The term differentiates Adler's approach entirely from Völkerpsychologie (Social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
), the culminating thesis of Wilhelm Wundt
Wilhelm Wundt
Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt was a German physician, psychologist, physiologist, philosopher, and professor, known today as one of the founding figures of modern psychology. He is widely regarded as the "father of experimental psychology"...
down to 1920.
Adler's psychology
Adler shifted the grounds of psychological determinance from sex and libidoLibido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
, the Freudian standpoint, to environmental factors. He gave special prominence to societal factors. According to him a person has to combat or confront three forces: societal, love-related, and vocational forces. These confrontations determine the final nature of a personality. Adler based his theories on the pre-adulthood development of a person. He laid stress on such areas as hated children, physical deformities at birth, birth order, etc.
Adlerian psychology shows parallels with the humanistic psychology
Humanistic psychology
Humanistic psychology is a psychological perspective which rose to prominence in the mid-20th century, drawing on the work of early pioneers like Carl Rogers and the philosophies of existentialism and phenomenology...
of Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Harold Maslow was an American professor of psychology at Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New School for Social Research and Columbia University who created Maslow's hierarchy of needs...
, who acknowledged Adler's influence on his own theories. Both individual psychology and humanistic psychology hold that the individual human being is the best determinant of his or her own needs, desires, interests, and growth.
The theory of compensation, defeat and over-compensation
According to Adler, an individual derives his personality traits from these essentially external factors. The character of the individual is formed by his responses to their influence in the following ways:Compensation
Whenever a person suffers from any disadvantages that make him or her inferior to others, his or her main aim becomes to bring those disadvantages to an end. Those who are able to do this become successful in their lives on both social as well as individual bases.Resignation
There are those who give in to their disadvantages and become reconciled to them. Such people are in the majority. The attitude of the world towards them is of a cool, rather uninterested sympathy.Over-compensation
There are some persons who become so infatuated with the idea of compensating for their disadvantages that they end up over-indulging in the pursuit. These are the neurotics.Thus, the external factors are vital in character formation.
Examples of psychologists and therapists who could be called "individual psychologists" in the sense of being Adlerian
Adlerian
Pertaining to the theory and practice of Alfred Adler , whose school of psychoanalysis is called Individual Psychology . Central to the Adlerian approach is to see the personality as a whole and not as the mere net result of component forces. Thus the term individual psychology...
include Rudolf Dreikurs
Rudolf Dreikurs
Rudolf Dreikurs was an American psychiatrist and educator who developed psychologist Alfred Adler's system of individual psychology into a pragmatic method for understanding the purposes of reprehensible behaviour in children and for stimulating cooperative behaviour without punishment or...
and Henry Stein.
Papers contained in Individual Psychology (1929 English revised edition)
- "Individual-Psychology, its assumptions and its results" (1914)
- "Psychical hermaphrodism and the Masculine protest - the cardinal problem of nervous diseases" (1912)
- "New leading principles for the practice of Individual-Psychology" (1913)
- "Individual-Psychological treatment of neuroses" (1913)
- "Contributions to the theory of hallucination" (1912)
- "The study of child psychology and neurosis" (International Congress lecture, 1913)
- "The Psychic treatment of trigeminal neuralgia" (1911)
- "The problem of distance"
- "The masculine attitude in female neurotics"
- "The concept of resistance during treatment" (1916)
- "Syphilophobia" (1911) (phobias and hypochondriac states in the dynamics of neurosis)
- "Nervous insomnia" (1914)
- "Individual-Psychological conclusions on sleep disturbances" (1912)
- "Homo-sexuality" (Lecture to Jurististisch-Medizinische Society, ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, 1918) - "Compulsion neurosis" (Lecture in Zurich, 1918)
- "The function of the compulsion-conception as a means of intensifying the individuality-feeling" (1913)
- "Neurotic hunger-strike"
- "Dreams and dream-interpretation" (Lecture, 1912)
- "The role of the unconscious in neurosis" (1913)
- "Life-lie and responsibility in neurosis and psychosis - A contribution to Melancholia" (1914)
- "Melancholia and paranoia - Individual-psychological results from a study of psychoses" (1914)
- "Individual-psychological remarks on Alfred Berger's Hofrat Eysenhardt" (Lecture, 1912)
- "Dostoevsky" (Lecture, Zurich Tonhalle, 1918)
- "New view-points on War neuroses (1908)"
- "Myelodysplasia (Organ inferiority)" (summary from Studie uber Minderwertigkeit von Organen)
- "Individual-psychological education" (Lecture, Zurich Association of Physicians, 1918)
- "The Individual-psychology of prostitution"
- "Demoralized children" (Lecture, 1920)
See also
- Classical Adlerian psychologyClassical Adlerian psychologyClassical Adlerian psychology is a values-based, fully integrated theory of personality, model of psychopathology, philosophy of living, strategy for preventative education, and technique of psychotherapy...
- North American Society of Adlerian PsychologyNorth american society of adlerian psychologyThe North American Society of Adlerian Psychology is the primary organization in the United States for the promotion of the psychological and philosophical theories of Alfred Adler, known as individual psychology...
- AdlerianAdlerianPertaining to the theory and practice of Alfred Adler , whose school of psychoanalysis is called Individual Psychology . Central to the Adlerian approach is to see the personality as a whole and not as the mere net result of component forces. Thus the term individual psychology...
- Alfred AdlerAlfred AdlerAlfred Adler was an Austrian medical doctor, psychotherapist, and founder of the school of individual psychology. In collaboration with Sigmund Freud and a small group of Freud's colleagues, Adler was among the co-founders of the psychoanalytic movement as a core member of the Vienna...
Literature
- Adler, A., Uber Den Nervosen Charakter: Grundzuge Einer Vergleichenden Individual-Psychologie Und Psychotherapie, (3rd, revised edition, J F Bergmann Verlag, Munich 1922).
- Adler, A., Praxis und Theorie der Individual-Psychologie: Vorträge zur Einführung in die Psychotherapie für Ärzte, Psychologen und Lehrer (Bergmann, 1st edn. Wiesbaden 1919, Munich 1920, 2nd edn. 1924, 3rd 1927, 4th 1930).
- Adler, A., The Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology, translated by P. Radin (Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1925; revised edition 1929, & reprints).
- Adler, A., Die Technik der Individual-Psychologie. 1: Die Kunst, eine Lebens- und Krankengeschichte zu lesen (1st edn., Bergmann, Munich 1928).
- Adler, A., Die Technik der Individual-Psychologie. 2: Die Seele des schwer erziehbaren Schulkindes (Bergmann, Munich 1928: Fischer Verlag 1974).
- Adler, A., Problems of Neurosis - A Book of Case-Histories, Edited by Philip MairetPhilip MairetPhilip Mairet was a designer, writer and journalist. He had a wide range of interest: crafts, Alfred Adler and psychiatry, and Social Credit. He was also a translator of major figures including Sartre. He wrote biographies of Sir Patrick Geddes and A. R...
, with prefatory essay by F. G. Crookshank, 'Individual Psychology: A Retrospect (and a Valuation)', pp. vii-xxxvii (Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & co., London 1929). - Adler, A., The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler, H. L. Ansbacher and R. R. Ansbacher (Eds.) (Harper Torchbooks, New York 1956).
- Dinkmeyer, D.C., Pew, W.L., & Dinkmeyer, Jr., D.C. (1979). Adlerian counseling and psychotherapy. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.
- Fall, K.A., Holden, J.M., & Marquis, A. (2002). Theoretical models of counseling and psychotherapy. New York: Brunner-Routledge.
- Hoffman, E. (1994). The drive for self: Alfred Adler and the founding of Individual Psychology. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing.
- Mosak, H.H., & Di Pietro, R. (2006). Early recollections: Interpretive method and application. New York: Routledge.
- Oberst, U.E., & Stewart, A.E. (2003). Adlerian psychotherapy: An advanced approach to Individual Psychology. New York: Brunner-Routledge.