AP+P2+2014-15+Alfred+Adler

Audience: Savannah Hutchings  Philosopher and psychiatrist Alfred Adler directed his goal-based theory towards a wide range of individuals in all aspects of society. A student of Freudian psychology, Adler was one to break away from those teachings and make his own theories and ideas known. His ideas have played an essential role in influencing other psychologists, and a major reason it has done so is that fact that he catered to such a diverse audience. According to the Adler Graduate School, his theory stressed the priority of understanding every individual within a specific social context (“Alfred Adler: Theory”). This gives contexts to the idea that Adler wanted his theory, that each individual had a goal to work towards therefore giving life meaning, to be extended to every individual. He believed society would benefit more if he was able to spread his teachings and practices to all, rather than a select few. Although his teachings were higher level in vocabulary and context, his overall goal was to share his beliefs and theories with all individuals because it would positively impact society overall. According to and article on Alfred Adler, “Adler's theory suggested that every person has a sense of inferiority... Adler referred to this as 'striving for superiority' and believed that this drive was the motivating force behind human behaviors, emotions, and thoughts” (Cherry 1). He aimed for an wide audience in an attempt to spread his theory to all people, rather than just those of a higher learning and higher level thinking.

“Alfred Adler: Theory and Application.” Adler Graduate School. Adler Graduate School. 2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014

Cherry, Kendra. “Alfred Adler.” About.com. About Education. 1997. Web. 21, Oct. 2014.

Historical: Harrisen found sources and Kara finished because she’s nice



Alfred Adler was born February, 1870 in Vienna, Austria, throughout his childhood he was an extremely sickly child and this assisted him in his final decision to become a medical doctor. The beginning of this career continually carried airs of, what was stated in his biography to be, “enthusiasm for social reform(improvement), often expressed in articles in socialist newspapers”(Alfred Adler Biography). He had later been invited into the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, yet he did not see himself as a follower. He was attempting to explain a similarity to machine and animals, he wanted to investigate what did make the difference of making a man being human. He looked at himself to be an “enabler” that guided those that wanted to make changes through ideas of self determination. He helped patients make a change in their lives. He was Alfred was thought to be one of the beginning psychiatrist that introduced ideas of therapy in social work, education with young children and in the rehabilitation of criminals. Alfred took strides to make physciatry an idea that is used widely in treatments and having people help themselves.

"Who Was Alfred Adler?" Alfred Adler. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

"World Biography." Alfred Adler Biography. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

Aim: Tim



Alfred Adler was a psychologist who founded and therefore brought about extreme importance to social and community psychology during the early 1900s. Up until that point, the main focus of psychology was on the individual, and what was going on within an individual person’s mind. However, Adler is important because Adler “is considered the first community psychologist, because his work pioneered attention to community life, prevention, and population health” (“About Alfred Adler”). Without Alfred Adler, the focus would have never been shifted from the individual to how that individual is effecting the community and what that means for everyone else around that person. While individual therapy is still a main focus throughout most forms of psychotherapy, Alfred Adler has established just how important group therapy and community therapy is. While his focus was also on the community, he also did a lot of work on an individual basis as well and came up with both inferiority and superiority complexes, as people are always striving to be perfect yet always feel inferior compared to those around them (Fisher). Alfred Adler was one of the first therapists who was able to combine the individual with the rest of the community. Before his time, it was not fully understood how the community affected the individual, however Adler was able to note the differences and the effects of one on the other.

“About Alfred Adler”. Adler School of Professional Psychology. Adler School of Professional Psychology. Web. 21 October 2014.

Fisher, Molly. “Alfred Adler”. Psychology History. Muskingum University. Web. 21 October 2014.

Cultural: Riley Zerbe



Alfred’s theories had no small amount of controversy, especially as a peer of Freud yet in disagreement with him. Although his theories have had a huge impact on psychology especially in the areas of child development. He was the first of Freud’s friends to start his own school of thought entitled Individual psychology. This school of thought centered on people’s need to feel superior based on their inherent feelings of inferiority. His practice, unlike many other forms of psychology are solutions focused and have influenced many in their practice even today. “H e pioneered ideas and techniques that have become the basis for most contemporary work including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Reality Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Existential Therapy, Holistic Psychology and Family Therapy to name a few” (Durbin). He took the ideas of psychoanalysis that emphasized the effects of experiences on individuals, while contradicting it in the way that he applied this. In his home country his ideas were completely rejected not because of any real difference but because of his jewish heritage. All of his practices were closed and he was forced to move to America to continue his work.

Works Cited:

"Who Was Alfred Adler?" Alfred Adler. North American Society of Adlerian Psychology, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.

Cherry, Kendra. “Alfred Adler.” About.com. About Education. 1997. Web. 21, Oct. 2014.