Adler Alfred Adler: Neurosis Although Term Paper

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" (Adler, Understanding Human Nature, pp. 139, 140)

In Adler's view, society can be a source of strength and comfort -- but also provoke neurosis when the individual feels helpless and inferior, as a result of unresolved issues regarding agency, issues begun in childhood. Adler was interested in overcoming the inferiority complex through positive social interaction. "There are the four main types of people, three out of four are negative. The ruling type tries to control others. The getting type tends to be very passive and goes along with others ideas, rarely inventive. The avoiding types try to isolate themselves to avoid defeat, they are usually very cold. The socially useful type, values having control over their lives and strive to do good things for the sake of society."(Fischer, 2001) These persons have a secure sense of self, and becoming such a socially useful, happy, and secure person is the ultimate goal of Adlerian therapy.

Theraputic Approach

Despite his stress on social influences, and its impact upon early childhood, Adler stressed that a person's unique constellation of personal, social, and familial influences were profoundly individualistic in their effects upon the subject's self-perception. In fact, Alder called his theory "Individual Psychology" because he felt each person was unique and no single, totalizing theory could be applied to all people. (Fischer, 2001) Self-actualization was the goal of human existence according to Adler, although he stressed this sense of self-actualization and self-empowerment was only possible by integrating one's self into society in a healthy manner.

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Adler's goal as a therapist was to find a way to help the patient find a sense of authentic selfhood. Every person had an idea about what their perfect self would be like, but it is essential that the therapist provide a realistic view of the self the person can actualize, so that the person is not constantly engaged in a sense of self-abasing, negative thinking. "Classical Adlerian depth psychotherapy liberates the individual from the limits of an archaic style of life and fictional final goal, thus changing the core personality." (Classical Alderian Depth Psychology, 2006) Classical Adlerian Society Homepage) "Adlerian diagnosis is based on the assumptions of the unity and self-consistency of the personality, and an orientation toward an unconscious fictional goal. It re-directs understanding away from 'past cause' to purpose, or 'future cause.'" (Stein, 2006)

Conclusion

Our democratic way of life has eroded badly into widespread self-interest and indifference," observed one Adlerian therapist. (Stein, 2006) People have grown more obsessed with creating a future, fictive self than relating to others. By helping patients gain a sense of positive agency in the world, understanding the roots of their inferiority complex, facilitated by a "diplomatic, cooperative working relationship" with an Adlerian therapist that establishes the feeling of equality through Socratic questioning, the client can become more capable of real, cognitive change "clarifying thinking and feeling, making conclusions, and coming to decisions." (Stein, 2006) That client will go back into his or her life and society, a better citizen as well.....

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