Book Review of Alfred Adler

Latosha Prescott-Carr

Internship I

Professor Jenkins

July 25, 2011

Book Review of Alfred Adler

Introduction

The book, “Individual Psychology,” presents the works of Alfred Adler. The main ideas of the psychologist are highlighted in this book by the editors. The chief objective of presenting the volume of the contributions of Adler was to make the practice and theory presented by Adler available in an authentic and systematic form. This paper makes an in-depth analysis on the book.

Discussion

Adlerian Therapy

The book individual psychology represents an optimistic opinion of individuals whilst relying profoundly on the belief of the social interest, i.e. feeling of unity among the mankind. Additionally, Adler, who is the Adlerian therapy founder, viewed the individuals as being evoked by the influences of the society and by the determination for success and superiority. According to Adler, the individuals are accountable for who they are and they represent the behavior which is formed by the future's views of the individuals. According to the belief of Adler, the individuals who are healthy in a psychological way are mostly conscious about the fact that what are they doing and why are they doing it (Adler, 1956). Psychological health, as per Adler, is estimated through the levels of social contribution which is favorable to the good of the community. To the extent, that an individual furthers and integrate the social context, therefore, the measurement of the individual's mental health. The social contribution of the individual is amplified by the means of the decrease of his mistaken values that often leads to the maladaptive thoughts of superiority or inferiority.

According to Ansbacher and Ansbacher (1964), who revisited some works of Adler, discovered the insight into the complexities and depth of the personality of the humans. Adler believed that the individuals are born with inferior and weal bodies, which is the condition which results in the individual feeling inferior and depends consequently on other individuals. Thus, this sensation of unity with other individuals is inherited in the individuals and is the definitive psychological health's standard (Manaster et al, 1977).

Main Points

According to Individual Psychology, each individual starts their life with some physical deficiency which activates the inferiority feelings. This feeling motivates the individual to struggle and aim for success or superiority. Those individuals who are unhealthy in a psychological way aim and struggle for superiority in their personality while those individuals who are psychologically unhealthy aim and struggle for the success for all of the humanity. According to Ansbacher & Ansbacher (1965), in every phenomenon of psychology, the aim for superiority can be seen. It is parallel to the physical growth and is essential for the life. The psychological phenomenon lays in the basis all the clarifications of the problems in the life. It is evident in an individual handles and face his problems. They struggle for increase, security, conquest, in the wrong or in right direction. The momentum of the psychological phenomenon from minus to plus does not end ever nor does the urge from below to above. “Whatever ...