Individual Psychology Theory

Individual Psychology Theory

Individual Psychology Theory Alfred Adler deviated from the Psychotherapy beliefs of Sigmund Freud in 1911 and this set his own school of thought apart. He created his own school of thought called “Alderian Psychology”. Feud believed “sexual processes have an indispensable organic foundation and that without considering the sexual processes, a medical man can only feel ill-at-ease in the light of the psyche” along with most thought processes as being subconscious, (Ansbacher & Huber, 2004). Alder, on the other hand, focused more on the conscious thought and the importance of social urges versus sexual urges, (Cervone & Pervin, 2010). Elder believed every individual experienced insecurities and therefore compensated for them. No one was exempt from this. His belief system states that individuals are motivated by their insecurities to compensate for them constantly. “Compensatory strivings reflect will to power, that is, the individual’s efforts to be a powerful, effective social being by coping with inferiorities and feelings of helplessness”, (Cervone & Pervin, 2010).
Influence on Personality and Behaviors Adler’s theory helps me to view people in a more socially driven way and I have always felt those drives in my own life as well. He emphasizes that people have an innate need for social interest to relate and cooperate with others. Also, there are different variations of how these social drives can motivate people. “In neurotic form, strivings for superiority may be expressed in efforts to exert power and control over others. In healthier form, a person experiences an “upward drive” toward unity and perfection. In the healthy person the striving for superiority is expressed in social feeling and cooperation as well as in assertiveness and competition”, (Cervone & Pervin, 2010).
In Society Adler’s belief system helps me view personalities and behaviors in society in an outward way. I am able to perceive situations people are in and infer their behaviors are due to the impacts of issues or events around them. Ranging anywhere from family pressures, friends, or even just random people walking down the street, we all are impacted by our insecurities and try to compensate for them when we are in any social environment. I have witnessed people doing this behavior for years and have seen this behavior within myself. Maybe someone’s family makes them feel not smart enough, which creates insecurity. This individual would therefore try to compensate for this insecurity by possibly studying all the time, trying to learn as many things as possible to impress others, or even bragging to make themselves seem more confident about themselves then they actually are. The way people are viewed in a social setting highly impacts their actions and speech.
In Workplace Every job has some form of competition and a diverse pool of personalities to choose from. I always say that you can see someone’s true colors shine through while they are hard at work. Some people will do anything to give into social pressures and look better, forgetting ethics and overall common decency. Because so many different personalities typically join in the workplace, they each are able to learn how to interact better with others if mature enough or even possibly take the lower road and learn how to compete with others’ weaknesses. Those who are neurotic and have insecurities tend to handle situations in a less healthy manner. “The neurotic is obsessed with a persistent craving for power. His highest happiness lies in the domination of others. This goal is reached by several approaches—actively (compensation), by appropriating instruments of power, and passively (decompensation), by developing neurotic symptoms which attract attention to the individual 's importance”, (Vaughan, 1927).
This has been my experience in the workplace where people are trying to compete for power to get ahead.
Influence on Role Because this theory states we are socially motivated and influenced, what environment we are in therefore defines who we are and who we ultimately desire to become. “The individual psychological phenomena can be traced historically and genetically with reference to the person 's plan of life about which all his activities are centered“, (Vaughan, 1927). We plan out our life according to what social factors are influencing us and this creates our role within society.
In Society This theory applied to me and my role in society has opened my eyes to what I thrive to be. I am constantly trying to make those around me happy. Most of the time I am more concerned with other’s happiness than my very own. I do this just to make everyone around me feel impressed or proud of who I am. Sometimes I will go above and beyond just to make a friend smile after they have had a bad, tiring, and emotionally taxing day. I do know that at a young age I always felt the pressure from my family to do my best. My brother was the problem child who would get in trouble constantly and upset everyone around him. I believe I tried my very best to make sure I did not add to any of that stress to my family or peers. “It is the purpose of the Individual-Psychological method to lay bare the sources of the feeling of inferiority, especially those associated with childhood, and to follow out the compensatory career of the masculine protest with its accentuated fictions,—and thus to disclose the aim toward Avhich the particular person is working and the means he employs to arrive at his ideal”, (Vaughan,1927). Thanks to my childhood pressures, my insecurities have caused me to overcompensate by making those around me happy at all times.
In Workplace On the same coin, in a work environment I tend to be the employee that never likes to mess up or do anything wrong. I am loyal to my work and will go above and beyond to make those around me happy. This has caused my past employers to take advantage of my kindness and I have been overworked and underpaid so to speak because of it. With age and experience I am recognizing when need to put my foot down and put my own happiness before other’s.
Influence on my Interaction with Others As mentioned early, my interaction with others is very much to make everyone around me happy. As I have grown up, I have matured a bit and have tried to taper off my going above and beyond for only those that deserve it most. Also, I am much pickier in what situations I put myself in because I know my personality and I know what my reactions will be.

Conclusion With Adler’s Individual Psychology Theory, it is easy to note the social pressures that can not only make someone feel inferior but also help them compensate for those inferiorities. If we all open our eyes and view the world in this way, it Is amazing how many actions people maintain can be explained. Alfred Adler’s theory is extremely prominent in the actions of all individuals in society today.

References
Ansbacher, H. L., & Huber, R. (2004). Adler--Psychotherapy and Freud. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 60(4), 333-337. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Cervone, D. & Pervin, L. A.(2010). Personality: Theory and research (11th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Vaughan, W. F. (1927). The psychology of Alfred Adler. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 21(4), 358-371. doi:10.1037/h0068938

References: Ansbacher, H. L., & Huber, R. (2004). Adler--Psychotherapy and Freud. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 60(4), 333-337. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Cervone, D. & Pervin, L. A.(2010). Personality: Theory and research (11th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Vaughan, W. F. (1927). The psychology of Alfred Adler. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 21(4), 358-371. doi:10.1037/h0068938