ATS2400 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Teleology, Birth Order
16 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Week 5
Alfred Adler
Basic Principles :
Adler approach to personality
Personality could be deconstructed into how our individual unconsciousness works to convert our
feelings of inferiority to superiority. This self-ideal would be further constructed by social and ethical
circumstances.
Psychodynamic Psychology
Used to reveal the unconscious content of a client's psyche in an effort to alleviate psychic tension.
Teleology
Idea that we are drawn towards our goals, our purposes & our ideals. The belief that individuals
are not only guided by mechanical forces but also move towards certain goals of self-realization.
Constructivism and metaphysics
Constructivism and metaphysics are opposing divisions from Adlerian theory, where the former
consider the impact of “fate” and other uncontrollable forces from the universe on people/events
and the metaphysics division focus on concepts such as eternity, which co-exist with the relevant
religious understandings. Adler was regarded as a pioneer in the creation of Rational Emotive
Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and Cognitive Therapy (CT).
Holism:
Views man as a unit, a self-conscious whole that functions as an open system and not as a
collection of drives and instincts
Typology
Adler developed a scheme outlining ‘types’ of personalities typically formed in childhood. He was
careful not to devalue individual traits that made people unique as he was strongly opposed to this.
Despite this, he aimed to present patterns that indicate particular characteristics.
Types of personality :
The Getting or Leaning type
Sensitive people who have developed a shell around themselves which protects them
Rely on others to carry them through life's difficulties
Have low energy levels and so become dependent
When overwhelmed, they develop what we typically think of as neurotic symptoms: phobias,
obsessions and compulsions, general anxiety, hysteria, amnesias, and so on, depending on
individual details of their lifestyle.
Document Summary
Personality could be deconstructed into how our individual unconsciousness works to convert our feelings of inferiority to superiority. This self-ideal would be further constructed by social and ethical circumstances. Used to reveal the unconscious content of a client"s psyche in an effort to alleviate psychic tension. Idea that we are drawn towards our goals, our purposes & our ideals. The belief that individuals are not only guided by mechanical forces but also move towards certain goals of self-realization. Adler was regarded as a pioneer in the creation of rational emotive. Views man as a unit, a self-conscious whole that functions as an open system and not as a collection of drives and instincts. Adler developed a scheme outlining types" of personalities typically formed in childhood. He was careful not to devalue individual traits that made people unique as he was strongly opposed to this. Despite this, he aimed to present patterns that indicate particular characteristics.
