Yahin, Gwen Stefani
BS Psychology 2B
Critique Paper
Individual Psychology Theory of Alfred Adler.
Individual psychology, also known as Adlerian Psychology, is a theory of human behavior
that focuses on the basic need for attribution and the importance of constructive behavior. Founder
Alfred Adler believed that all actions were goal-oriented and that individuals were motivated by
how they functioned in the social system, pursuing the "attribution" or meaning and purpose of
life. Adler believed that people first learned to belong to and interact with their first social
environment, others within their family. He emphasized the individual's position in the family
system, psychological birth order, family dynamics, and attempts to avoid inferiority complex.
Adler's theory also emphasizes the importance of understanding how individuals are affected by
social context. Adler's psychology also included the concept of an individual's pursuit of
superiority. This approach suggests that people are meaningful and driven by the need to belong.
Like all psychodynamic approaches in human psychology, Adler's psychology has been
criticized for being unscientific and difficult to prove empirically. Arguably, Adlerian psychology
is true, especially because it focuses on the unconscious and fictitious goals. Some of the more
general limitations of Adler's theory are overwhelmed by the number of concepts, the lack of true
meaning of concepts, and the individual as the subject of change. The concept of creative power
is fascinating. Most people will probably prefer to think of it as being more than just an interaction
between heredity and the environment. Many intuitively feel that they have agents that allow them
to make decisions and shape their lifestyles. But while it's fascinating, the concept of creative
power is pure fiction and cannot be considered scientifically. It was somewhat superficial and was
considered to lack the foundation to fully address the various psychological problems that clients
pose for counseling. Emphasizing birth order and early memory makes assumptions that have been
regarded as overemphasizing concepts that are not necessarily unique to human development.
Adler's theory has also been criticized for tending to oversimplify the causes of human problems.
Adlerian counseling has been used for many years, but it is not without its weaknesses and
limitations. Adlerian therapy does not have a strong supporting research base. There is a lack of
clear and solid evidence of the effectiveness of Adlerian counseling. Adler was also very vague in
applying his approach to working with clients and his general approach to treatment. The Adlerian
approach can help many, but it may not be the best choice for everyone. Adlerian theory involves
exploring and confronting memories that can sometimes cause distress and agitation, as early
memories focus on how they shape the current problem.
REFERENCE:
Sperry J., Sperry L. (2020) Individual Psychology (Adler). In: Zeigler-Hill V., Shackelford T.K.
(eds)
Encyclopedia
of
Personality
and
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_1387
Individual
Differences.
Springer,
Cham.