PSYC 356 Study Guide - Final Guide: Individual Psychology, Human Behavior, Jargon
19 Jun 2018
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Chapter 3
Adler: Individual Psychology
1. Distinguish between striving for superiority and striving for
success.
The sole dynamic force behind people's actions is the striving for success or
superiority.
A. The Final Goal
The final goal of success or superiority toward which all people strive unifies
personality and makes all behavior meaningful.
B. The Striving Force as Compensation
Because people are born with small, inferior bodies, they feel inferior and
attempt to overcome these feelings through their natural tendency to move
toward completion. The striving force can take one of two courses—personal
gain (superiority) or community benefit (success).
C. Striving for Personal Superiority
Psychologically unhealthy individuals strive for personal superiority with little
concern for other people. Although they may appear to be interested in other
people, their basic motivation is personal benefit.
D. Striving for Success
In contrast, psychologically healthy people strive for the success of all
humanity, but they do so without losing their personal identity.
2. Describe the role of subjective perceptions in Adler's theory of
personality.
People's subjective view of the world—not reality—shapes their behavior.
A. Fictionalism
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Fictions are people's expectations of the future. Adler held that fictions guide
behavior, because people act as if these fictions are true. Adler emphasized
teleology over causality, or explanations of behavior in terms of future goals
rather than past causes.
B. Physical Inferiorities
Adler believed that all humans are "blessed" with physical inferiorities, which
stimulate subjective feelings of inferiority and move people toward perfection
or completion.
3. Explain how seemingly contradictory behaviors may reflect a
single goal of striving for superiority.
Adler believed that all behaviors are directed toward a single purpose. When
seen in the light of that sole purpose, seemingly contradictory behaviors can
be seen as operating in a self-consistent manner.
A. Organ Dialect
People often use a physical disorder to express style of life, a condition Adler
called organ dialect, or organ jargon.
B. Conscious and Unconscious
Conscious and unconscious processes are unified and operate to achieve a
single goal. The part of our goal that is not clearly understood is unconscious;
that part of our goal we fail to fully comprehend is conscious.
4. Define social interest and give examples of what it is and what it is
not.
Human behavior has value to the extent that it is motivated by social interest,
that is, a feeling of oneness with all of humanity.
A. Origins of Social Interest
Although social interest exists as potentiality in all people, it must be fostered
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