Page 27 - History of Psychology

Adler noted that all humans begin life completely dependent on others for their
survival and therefore with feelings of inferiority. Such feelings motivate people

first as children and then as adults to gain strength to overcome these feelings.
While feelings of inferiority motivate all personal growth and are therefore good,
they can also paralyze rather than motivate some people. Another psychological
variable of interest to Adler was birth order. For example, Adler believed that
second children, like himself, tended to be ambitious and competitive, and
experienced sibling rivalry. The eldest children often strive to achieve the high
expectations of their parents, while the youngest children in families of three or
more tend to be spoiled and immature, even into adulthood.

World View and Lifestyle
Hans Vaihinger's philosophy of "as if" influenced Adler's theory. Adler believed
that life was inherently meaningless, and therefore, whatever the meaning of life
was should be given to the individual. A person's world view develops from early
experiences as a child. Depending on the nature of this experience, a child can
come from a positive or negative life experience, and this experience will become

a way of life for the child in the future. As the worldview develops, the child
reflects on how to live in the world as he or she feels. Children begin to plan for
their future by creating what Adler calls "guide fiction." This is a reasonable future
goal given the child's worldview. If the world view is positive, the child may try to
embrace the world by planning to become a doctor, scientist, artist, or teacher,
for example. However, if the world view is negative, the child may invade the
world by planning a life full of evil and destruction.
From the worldview emerges guiding fiction (future goals), and from guiding
fiction emerges lifestyle. Lifestyle includes daily activities that are carried out
while pursuing one's goals. However, a person's lifestyle also determines which
aspects of life to focus on, what to feel and what to ignore, and how problems are
solved. According to Adler, for a lifestyle to be truly effective, it must contain
considerable social interest. That is, part of the goal must involve working towards
a society that will provide a better life for everyone. Adler called any lifestyle
without adequate social interest the wrong way of life. Because neurotics usually
have the wrong lifestyle, the job of the psychotherapist is to replace that lifestyle
with one that contains healthy social interests.

Creative Self
Adler departs radically from Freud's and Jung's theories by saying that humans
are not just victims of their environment and biological heritage. Although
environment and heredity provide the raw materials for personality, the person is
free to manage these materials in various ways. Adler's concept is in line with the
Nietzschean concept that humans are free to choose their own destiny. For
example, whether feelings of inferiority facilitate one's growth or disability is
determined by personal choice.

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