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ADLERIAN
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Chapter 5
Sheila. K. Grant, Ph.D.
Professor
Adler on Delusions of Power
"The striving for personal power is a disastrous delusion and poisons man's living together. Whoever desires the human community must renounce the striving for power over others." "One thing can save us: the mistrust of any form of predominance. Our strength lies in conviction, in organizing strength, in a world view, not in the violence of armament and not in emergency laws.” "For us the way and tactics emerge from our highest goal: the nursing and strengthening of social feeling."
Alfred Adler’s
Individual Psychology
A phenomenological approach
Social interest is stressed
Birth order and sibling relationships
Therapy as teaching, informing and
encouraging
Basic mistakes in the client’s private logic
The therapeutic relationship — a
collaborative partnership
The Phenomenological
Approach
Adlerians attempt to view the world from
the client’s subjective frame of reference
- How life is in reality is less important than how the individual believes life to be
- It is not the childhood experiences that are crucial – it is our present interpretation of these events
Unconscious instincts and our past do
not determine our behavior
Social Interest
Adler’s most significant and distinctive concept
- Gemeinschaftsgefuhl or community feeling
- Human behavior has value to extent that it’s motivated by social interest , that is, by a feeling of oneness with all of humanity
- Striving for a better future for humanity
- A sense of identification & empathy with others
- Refers to an individual’s attitude toward and awareness of being a part of the human community
- Mental health is measured by the degree to which we successfully share with others and are concerned with their welfare
- Happiness and success are largely related to social connectedness
Basic Tenets
Behavior can best be understood holistically in terms of its patterns or unity. Not reductionistic. All behavior is goal directed or purposive , although the individual may not be consciously aware of the purpose Every individual strives for superiority (competence, recognition) Every individual strives for social acceptance, social belongingness Each person interprets life in term of his or her unique perceptions ( Phenomonological )
Basic Philosophy
Humans are motivated by social interest, by striving toward goals, and by dealing with the tasks of life Emphasis is on the individual’s positive capacities to live in society cooperatively People have the capacity to interpret, influence, and create events Each person at an early age creates a unique style of life , which tends to remain relatively constant throughout life
Five Life Tasks
Friendship or relating to others
Work or making a contribution to community
Love and Family Relationships
Self-acceptance including our sex role
Spirituality or understanding our values,
goals and relationship with others.
Some Useful Definitions
A Teleosocioanalytic Theory Teleo – Goal-directed, Purposeful, Moving toward Socio – Social Interest, Social Belonginess Analytic – Unaware of motives or purpose Individual Psychology
- Person can only be understood as a whole Family Constellation: Relationship among family members Lifestyle: Your chosen path in life based on fictions and goals Fictional Finalism: Distorted view of yourself and the world
Mental Health
Psychologically unhealthy individuals strive
for personal superiority with little concern for
other people
- Although they may appear to be interested in others, their basic motivation is personal benefit
In contrast, psychologically healthy people
strive for the success of all humanity
- But they do so without losing their personal identity
Some Useful Definitions
Inferiority
- Recognizing your limitations & need for others
- If overwhelming can result in debilitating inferiority complex
- Lack of inferiority can result in superiority complex Adler's inferiority complex is an exaggerated neurotic reaction to inferiority or for superiority
- Develops in early childhood
- Subjective perception of self resulting from comparison of beliefs about others in primary group
- Comparison is made regarding physical characteristics, social characteristics, & goals & standards
- Inferiority may not be consciously experienced
Biographical Sketch of Adler
Born in the suburbs
of Vienna on Feb.
7, 1870. Alfred was
the third child and
second son to a
Jewish grain
merchant and his
wife.
Biographical Sketch of Adler
- Adler continued to write& see clients.
- He began treating families as he became convinced of the importance of family & social belongingness
Productive Years Flees Austria, Visits US
- Visited the U.S. in 1926 & accepted a post as visiting professor at Long Island College of Medicine
- In 1934 he fled Vienna ahead of the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment and political upheaval On May 28, 1937, during a series of lectures in Aberdeen University he died of a heart attack Rudolf Dreikurs carried on his work in the U.S. Other Adlerian counselors & psychologists of note include
- Heinz & Roweena Ansbacher, Jon Carlson, Raymond Corsini, Don Dinkmeyer and Don Dinkmeyer, Jr., Harlold Mozak, Tom Sweeney. Adlerian psychology is recognized today as one of the most effective methods for raising and teaching responsibility in a democratic society Active Parenting programs are all based on Adlerian theory and principles
Adler’s Legacy Personality Development
Born inferior & dependent on others
- Must find place in Family Constellation
- Dangers of pampering or neglect
- Encouragement and acceptance is the
key
- Develop lifestyle based on our fictional
finalism
- Strive for superiority, competence,
recognition
Personality Development
Strive for social acceptance, social belonging
- Strive for friendship, love
- Adler stresses Choice & Responsibility,
Meaning in Life, & Striving for Success,
Completion, & Perfection
- Responsibility to work
- Responsibility to family
- Responsibility for community involvement
- Strive for self-acceptance including our sex role
- Strive for spiritual understanding
Family Constellation
- You are not born in a vacuum
- Your place in the family is instrumental in forming your personality
- Your birth order predisposes you to certain personality traits
Birth Order
Basis principle of Adler’s phenomenological
view of birth order:
- Whatever role IS adopted is the one that is most advantageous to finding a place
- The circumstances are NOT as important as the perceptions of those circumstances
Only Child
- Birth is a miracle
- Child is center of the universe
- Can be spoiled
- Parents are inexperienced
- Child can lack empathy for others
Predispositions of Only Child
- Expects to be center of adult
attention
- Prefers adult company
- Uses adult language
- May not get along with other children
or siblings
Oldest Child
- First spoiled then Dethroned by next
child
- Given responsibilities & expected to
set an example
- High parental expectations
Predispositions of Oldest Child
- Feels privileged & powerful
- Authoritarian, conservative,
dogmatic
- Tends to be dependable & hard-working
- Strives to keep ahead
- High Achievement Drive
Second Child
- “Speeder” as if always in a race
(i.e., like training to surpass older
sibling)
- Older sibling is always more
competent
- Second-born often opposite of the
firstborn
- In competition with older subling
Therapeutic Goals
Fostering social interest Helping clients overcome feelings of discouragement & inferiority Modifying clients’ views & goals--that is, changing their lifestyle Changing faulty motivation Assisting clients to feel a sense of equality with others Helping clients to become contributing members of society
Process of Psychotherapy
- Phase 1: Establishing the Relationship
- Phase 2: Analysis and Assessment
- Phase 3: Encouraging Insight
- Phase 4: Re-Education and Reorientation
Establishing the Relationship
- Active Listening
- Attending & Listening with Empathy
- Earning trust through acceptance and
encouragement
Analysis and Assessment
- Adlerian counseling proceeds from 2 interview forms: - 1. The subjective interview - Extracts patterns in client’s life, develops hypotheses about what works for client, & determines what accounts for client’s various concerns
Analysis and Assessment
- Adlerian counseling proceeds from 2 interview forms: - 1. The objective interview - How problems began - Any precipitating events - Medical history including meds - Social history - Reasons client chose therapy at this time - Client’s coping with life tasks - A Lifestyle Assessment
Analysis and Assessment
- All Analysis & Assessment is geared toward:
- Understanding the individual’s lifestyle, private logic, faulty assumptions
- Lifestyle Assessment
- Family constellation
- Early recollections
- Uncovering Priorities (superiority, control, comfort, pleasing others)
Analysis and Assessment
- Once material has been gathered from both subjective & objective interviews: - Integrated Summaries are developed, presented to client, & discussed - All Analysis & Assessment is geared toward: - Understanding the individual’s lifestyle, private logic, faulty assumptions
Analysis and Assessment
- Mosak (2000) includes analysis of common basic mistakes - Lifestyle conceived of as a personal mythology - We behave as if the myth were true - Mozak’s Five Basic Mistakes: - Overgeneralizations: “There is no fairness in the world” - False or impossible goals: “I must please everyone if I am to feel loved” - Misperceptions of life and life’s demands: “Life is so very difficult for me” - Minimization or denial of one’s basic worth: “I’m basically stupid, so why would anyone want anything to do with me? - Faulty values: “I must get to the top, regardless of who gets hurt in the process”
Encouraging Self-
Understanding & Insight
- Self-understanding only possible
when hidden purposes & goals of
behavior are made conscious
- Insight refers to an understanding of
the motivations that operate in client’s
life
- A special form of awareness that
facilitates that acts as a foundation for
change
Encouraging Self-
Understanding & Insight
- Disclosure & well-timed interpretations
are techniques that facilitate process of
gaining insight
- Interpretations are tentative suggestions
in form of open-ending sharing
- Tentative Interpretations or Hypotheses:
- Could it be that....
- It seems to me that....
- This is how it appears to me....
Encouraging Self-
Understanding & Insight
- Recognition Reflex
- Eventually clients come to understand
- Their motivations
- Ways in which they are now contributing to maintenance of problem
- What they can do to correct situation
Reeducation & Reorientation
- Learning to adopt a more constructive lifestyle Enlisting support of others Encouragement Responsibility Change & search for new possibilities Clients’ make decisions, modify goals, & act as if Making a difference Manifested by a change in behavior, attitude Immediacy, confrontation, etc.
Examples of Misbehavior
- Darren leaves his seat inappropriately
- When you tell him to return to his seat he
glares at you and says, “No, and you can’t
make me!”
What is his probable goal of misbehavior? How does he make you feel? How does he react to you?
Examples of Misbehavior
- Escobar didn’t hand in his homework
again this week. When you asked him
why, he looked down and said, “What’s
the use?”
What is his probable goal of misbehavior? How does he make you feel? How does he react to you?
Examples of Misbehavior
- Your spouse is always running late
- You are supposed to meet the boss for
dinner
- You remind your spouse an hour ahead of
time, but now you are going to be late
again
What is the probable goal of misbehavior? How does he/she make you feel? How does he/she react to you?
Examples of Misbehavior
- You got in trouble for being late to work
- You can’t help that you had car trouble
- If your colleague had not gone out of his way
to tell the boss she never would have known
What is her probable goal of misbehavior? How does she make you feel? How does she react to you?
Examples of Misbehavior
- Every time you get to the checkout line
your son throws a temper tantrum, right in
front of everyone
What is his probable goal of misbehavior? How does he make you feel? How does he react to you?
Examples of Misbehavior
- You know that your daughter is doing
drugs and having sex
- When you’ve tried to confront her she just
walks away and says, “You don’t really
care, you’ve never cared!”
What is her probable goal of misbehavior? How does she make you feel? How does she react to you?
The Power of Encouragement
- Focus on assets & strengths to build self- confidence and feelings of worth “You are really determined to succeed.” “You can do that.” “I liked the way you handled that.”
- Accept people as they are
- Don’t make your acceptance dependent on their behavior “Whoops! Well you tried. Next time you’ll do better.” “Nobody’s perfect, you are special in your own ways.”
The Power of Encouragement
- Have faith in them so they can believe in themselves “You can do it” “I know you can handle it”
- Show respect & trust “I’m going to let you handle that” “You can figure that out, come to me if you need help.” “I don’t agree but I will respect your opinion.”
Praise Versus Encouragement
My contributions are appreciated I must be Contributions better than others Personal Gain I don’t have to be perfect as long as I try my best To be worthy I Recognizes Effort must be perfect. Rewards for Competed Tasks How I feel about myself is important To be worthy I Internal Evaluation must please you External Evaluation I am worthy only when I Belief in Self I am trusted to be responsible obey you External Control What Child Hears or Focuses on: What Child Hears or Perceives Perceives Focuses on: PRAISE ENCOURAGEMENT
Natural & Logical Consequences
- Reward & punishment deny children the opportunity to make their own decisions and to be responsible for their own behavior
- Natural & logical consequences require children to be responsible for their own behavior
- Natural consequences allow children to learn from the natural order of the world: - If you don’t eat you become hungry - Children experience consequences of their action or inaction
- Logical consequences teach children social order & rules: - If you don’t complete your assignments you earn a bad grade
- Natural & logical consequences motivate children to make responsible decisions by allowing them to experience the consequences of their decisions & actions in an atmosphere of trust & encouragement
Examples of Natural Consequences
- If you forget your umbrella and it rains, you get wet
- If you are late for dinner it will be cold, or all gone
- If you break others things, they will not let you borrow them
- If you hit another, they will not like you and might hit you
- If you lie, others will not trust you
Examples of Logical Consequences
- If you push or shove in line, you go to the back of the line
- If you don’t put things away, they go in storage for a day
- If you vandalize, then you must clean it up (restitution)
- If you hit others, you will be separated from them
- If you talk back or use obscenities, you must apologize
- If you cheat on a test, you get a zero
