Theories for superiority and success

Theories for transcendence and advantageAdler felt behavior was motivated mainly by affectionate gos and by a attempt for transcendence or success govern manpowert agency being the basic drive, quite than innerity as Freud suggested. Adler (1922) utter it was an inferiority multifactorial rather than Oedipus complex that was the determining factor in neurosis. Freud felt that society rose out of encroachment and sexual repression, variateulating his Oedipus possible action to illustrate it. He assumed experience mold constitution and that chip in conduct is ca practiced by past experiences.Adlers view was that we argon accountable for who we be and behaviour is shaped by our experiences and view of the future, the opposite to Freuds guess. Adler to a fault believed that psychologically healthy nation be wear apprised(p)ly, aware of what and wherefore they do what they do, in contrast with Freud, who placed heavy emphasis on un informed comp championnts of behaviour. (Anne Shyne 1942)Adler (1917) fannyvas organ inferiority as a doctor and the animal(prenominal) recompenses do for a part that wasnt operative properly. He felt peck are born with weak, inferior bodies that lead to feelings of inferiority and dependence on sunrise(prenominal)(prenominal)s. He verbalise that if a person art objectaged to heretofore properly for inferior feelings because they ordain pass through this phase successfully and rifle a men long-leggedy healthy person. On the other hand if the person fails to treat for their weakness they may develop an inferiority complex believing themselves slight worthy than others. In his mind it was physical inferiorities, not sex, which formed the arse of gentlemans gentleman being pauperism. Along with his inferiority possibleness he positive his onset instinct theory aggression begins with feelings of inferiority or anxiety indoors the family-our earliest affectionate contacts. Freud disagreed a t the time, however proposed a similar radical some years later the death instinct, where self-importance defeating behaviours, e.g. violence and aggression, are a product of this instinct. (Boeree 2006)Feist.J, Feist, G, (2008) wrote that both Freud and Adler were influenced by the horrors of World War I and both amended their theories Freud promoted aggression as a basic human drive alongside the sex drive, whereas Adler, influenced by the war experience for himself and those just about him, concluded that social interest and compassion drove human motivation and not aggression. He used the term masculine protest, which implied a power to dominate others. Boys fatalityed to be seen as masculine i.e. slopped and in charge, not weak or dependent (feminine), notwithstanding this was misinterpreted labelling men ingrainedly as more assertive, so Adler downgraded the phrase (Boeree 2006), minimising its role in his theory of abnormal development. Masculine assertiveness was not due to some innate transcendence just a reflection of the fact that boys were socially advance to be assertive, and girls discouraged seen with boys toys e.g. swords, guns and bow and arrows, and girls toys such(prenominal) as dolls, prams and dolls houses. Adler revised his paper to both boys and girls begin life with the capacity for protest. Feist, J., Feist, G. (2008).Adler (1964) identified certain factors of man-to-man Psychology to explain our behaviour1. Striving for success or favourable position is the driving force.2. Subjective perceptions shape behaviour and personality.3. Personality is merged and self-consistent.4. companionable interest dictates activity.5. The self-consistent personality structure develops into a persons musical mode of life.6. original power moulds this style of life.The one dynamic force lav peoples behaviour is the Striving for Superiority or SuccessAdler (1956) proposed our behaviour is driven by except one propel force striving for success or superiority. In his early theory, he used the term striving for superiority to describe psychologically unhealthy people who strive for personal superiority over others, just he later proposed the term striving for success, i.e. psychologically healthy people who are motivated by social interest, not just for themselves but for others around them.Individual psychology assumes that we deal physical weaknesses that activate feelings of inferiority, and it is these feelings that drive us to superiority or success and modify us to fulfil our potential. This has similarities to Rogers theory of self-actualisation and the fully functioning person and reflects one of the philosophical roots of Friederich Nietzsches will to power i.e. human driving forces, such as ambition and hitch hold ofment, to reach as high a built in bed of in life as possible. (Boeree 2006). lower status complex, where an adult feels inferior to others, is only developed if a churl thinks that h e is less worthy than others. For example, if tall men are seen as better in a ill-tempered culture, then short men might develop inferiority complex because he feels that he is less important than others. But, if that kindred short man lived in a culture that made no difference surrounded by both tall and short men then he would have neer developed inferiority complex. A more general form of inferiority is the inferiority of pip-squeakren who are smaller and less arguent, socially and intellectually than adults, and so naturally feel inferior.An inferiority complex can be expressed as shy and timid, insecure, indecisive and submissive, reliance on others, even manipulating others to get support the aim is to cover up ones inferiority by pretending to be superior, e.g. bullies who try to look hard or use their size or weapon to intimidate a smaller or unarmed person. More subtle examples include people who use attention-seeking behaviour, or power by committing crimes, or put others down for their gender, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, weight, height, etc. Even more subtle are those who hide their feelings of ineptitude in alcohol and drugs.People respond to inferiority by compensation ie making up for their shortcomings a weak organ can be made stronger or other organs can be overdeveloped to compensate, similarly people with psychological inferiorities behave similarly Some compensate by becoming honest at their particular weakness, whilst others master something else. Children, who we realise feel inferior around adults, have one thing in commonThe desire to originate up, to be big, to be an adult. Most of us manage quite comfortably (Boree 2006).People who see themselves as having more than their fair share of physical weaknesses overcompensate for them and often have overstated feelings of inferiority, strive for personal gain, and set unrealistic objects they are not squad players, whereas those with normal feelings of inferi ority compensate by co-operating with others and developing a good level of social interest.Peoples subjective perceptions shape their behaviour and personalityAdler was influenced by the philosopher Hans Vaihinger (1925) who said people live by metaphoral ideals that arent realistic and money box be tested or confirmed, eg Honesty is the best policy, All men are created equal, and The end justifies the means. Ideals such as these are usually fiction shamisms can help us deal more effectively with reality, or they may block our attempts to accept it. For example, if we believe in heaven and hell, it will influence how we live.According to Adler (1956) we strive toward a concluding intention to achieve superiority or success. Although the last(a) goal is fictional it is still remarkable because it unifies personality and makes our behaviour logical. We create our fictional goal, constructed by heredity and environment, employ our inventive power, i.e. our ability to shape our behaviour and create our own personality.By 4 or 5 years of age, kidrens creative power has developed enough to create their terminal goal they are small and ineffective and to compensate they create their fictional goal to be big and strong e.g. barbarianren often play at being super heroes, or want to be a fireman when I grow up. A final goal reduces feelings of inferiority and points that person in the direction of either superiority or success.Although our final goal is relatively fixed during early electric shaverhood, we perch free to change our minds at any time. Because the goal is fictional and unconscious,we withal create temporary goals i.e. sub-goals that are not rigidly bound to the final goal but are created as partial sources. In other words, even though our final goal is set during childhood, we are undefendable of change at any point in life. However, Adler maintained that not all our choices are conscious and that style of life is created by conscious and unconscious choices the unconscious being the unknown part of the goal.Sub- goals and final goals move together in a self-consistent pattern. Adler (1956) used the analogy of the playwright who builds the characters and the subplots of the play to fit with the final goal of the drama. When the last scene is bring out everything makes sense. When our final goal is known, our behaviour makes sense and each sub-goal takes on new significance.Adler (1956) said that lifestyle is not merely a mechanical reaction, but a result of our creative power, which differs from Freud who proposed that events from our past, such as childhood trauma, travel how we are now. Adler truism motivation, as not being driven by the past, but drawn towards our goals, our future, and our ideals, Teleology Life is not mechanical, it is hard and uncertain but always has room for change (Boree 2006).Personality is unified and self-consistentAdler didnt discontinue the parts of the personality as Freud d id with Id, Ego and Super Ego, or conscious/pre-conscious/unconscious. He described a unified personality which cant be separated, not a series of drives and instincts, as proposed by Freud. He saw the unconscious and conscious as two cooperating parts of one unified system. A united personality being closely linked to the fictional final goal by which we organises our life to achieve a solution to a problem. I.e. a person has goal and a solution to get there, developed in childhood and handed to the adult as the major(ip) life task, all these parts work together self-consistently to achieve.Adler recognised divers(prenominal) ways of operating with unity and self-consistency. One way was what he called organ Dialect, where the mortal strives in a self-consistent fashion toward a superstar goal, and all actions and functions are part of this goal, i.e. physicality, thoughts, feelings all affect the entire person. Adler (1956) said that through organ dialect, the bodys organsSpea k a language which is usually more expressive and discloses the individuals opinion more clearly than words are able to do (p. 223).He presented an example of organ dialect a boy who wet the bed to convey a message that he doesnt want to obey his parents. His behaviour is rightfully a creative expression, for the child is speaking with his bladder alternatively of his mouth (p. 223).A person is not a contrasting person when he is being a dad, a husband, working, or when he is with friends etc, he is the same person pursuing the same life goals and using the same tactics to achieve them i.e. he is a iodin, unified, complete person. Unlike Freud, Adler did not view parts of the personality in conflict with each other instead he saw actions, thoughts, and feelings working together.Human activity in terms of social Interest affectionate interest is how we identify with society, i.e. care in families, community etc. Adler believed such social interest is not exclusively innate or sole ly learned, but a combination of the two Its nature is innate but needs to be nurtured to survive (Boeree 2006). Adler (1927) felt it was the natural inferiority of individuals that directs their behaviour to form groups (society) for protection, support, love etc. That is, social interest is necessary for perpetuating the human race. Adler (1924) believed that we were social beingsThe human being and all his capabilities and forms of expression are inseparably linked to the existence of others concluding that a social person is such(prenominal) closer to happiness than the isolated person striving for superiority.Adler (1933) cited the mutually sound affinity of mother and child as an example of the way social interest may originate. Adlers concept of the mother-child relationship was opposite to that of Freud, who described this relationship as based partly on oral, cannibalistic drives.The self-consistent personality structure develops into a Life StyleLife-Style refers to an individuals striving towards signification and belonging. It is a pattern of behaviour that begins early in life and forms a theme there-on. It is the result of inferiorities, perceived or actual, and results in the implementation of schemes e.g. Adlers final goal to overcome death propelled him to become a doctor. (NCHC 2012)Life style is unique to each person and is the arrangement of our social, domestic and occupational activities. Although the final goal is fairly rigid, lifestyle need not be and tractableness and diversity is seen in psychologically healthy individuals, whereas, psychologically unhealthy people are more inflexible and are less able to consider new ways of responding to whats sacking on around them. Healthy people express their social interest through action actively striving to mould what Adler called the three life tasks work, friendship and love, and whose behaviour represents the ideal characteristics for extract of society, and hence humankind.How w e behave to achieve life style and final goal is supported by private logic, i.e. the private reasoning we invent to solve problems that is not understood by others. An individuals private logic consists of what he really believes and intends. It includes the long-range goals of the life style, the short range goals of the immediate situation, and the rationalisations he gives himself for what he is doing. The origin is in childhood it explains ones own experiences to self, which is then used to exempt ones actions, eg a child learns how to behave to get an adults attention which may be to misbehave. Private logic differs from what is commonly thought, i.e. common sensethe degree of the variate between private logic and common sense, what Adler called the iron logic of social living, is an indicator or measure of mental health. (Manaster, 2009, p. 5)Therapy draws awareness of mistaken beliefs or faulty interpretations, and hence, the errors in our private logic.Life Style is moul ded by peoples creative powerThe concept of the creative self means that the individual is responsible for himself, not blaming others or uncontrollable forces for his situation. The creative self interprets inferiority, creates the final goal and aligns life style and private logic. It can be flexible to whats going on around us, initiating and maintaining change. As Adler says, we are the masters of our own personalities and destinies-creators rather than passive reactors (NCHC 2012)Adler believed that we create patterns of behaviour, safeguarding tendencies, to protect our exaggerated sense of self-esteem against worldly concern disgrace. They enable us to hide an inflated self-image and maintain our life style, e.g. excuses, aggression and withdrawal. Freud called them ego defence mechanisms (EDMs). Both men agreed that they protect against anxiety, however, Freuds theory is that they are unconscious, protecting the ego from anxiety, whereas Adlers theory suggests they are larg ely conscious and protect our fragile self-esteem from public disgraceFamily Constellations as well as attributing parents and other adults as early influences on a child, Adler also include siblings as early influences as well. (Boeree 2006). He believed pampering and negligence were principal factors predisposing an inferiority complex and that a persons perceived role at bottom a family was more important than the birth order itself.The only child is more likely to be pampered, denying opportunity to develop courage and self reliance. If the parents are abusive or neglectful the only child has to place upright it alone, suffering a childhood full of humiliation and insecurity.The first child starts out as an only child, with lots of attention, but this all changes when a second child arrives. At first, he tries to regain his only child status by acting like the baby, but is quickly told to grow up, and so rebels, misbehaves and withdraws. According to Adler the first child is m ore likely to become a problem child who is solitary and more conservative than others in the family.The second child has the first child as a pace-setter and tends to compete with him. They often succeed, but often feel as if the race is never over, never quite getting there. Middle children behave in a similar way.The youngest child is often the most pampered, the baby of the family and is often tough as such. They are the second most likely problem child. Inferiority to anyone elder and bigger than them themselves is common however, they also have the advantage of older siblings to learn from, and can be driven to do better than them.Conditions such as illness or disability can be an over-riding factor, with the ailing child taking the youngest child position regardless of actual position.A major contribution of birth order research is that it has helped psychologists understand why brothers and sisters within the same family are no more similar in personality than are those f rom different families. According to Sulloway (1997), the family is not a single shared environment but a place of differing areas that provide siblings with different outlooks on life. The personalities of siblings differ because they adopt different strategies to achieve parental approval.Freuds Oedipal theory explains how he saw social development. He believed the childs behaviour is driven by an innate sexual and aggressive drive, completely ignoring the paternal behaviour that Adler believed shaped behaviour and development. It occurs during the phallic stage (around tail fin years) of Freuds psycho-sexual theory of personality. The five year-old child feels hostile/incestuous towards the parent, feelings which cant be realised so instead they are repressed. Males repress their feelings for their mother headacheing castration by their fathers, hiding their feelings in the unconscious, to enable them gain their fathers favour by becoming like him. The five year-old girl believe s she has been castrated and blames her mother. The Oedipus Complex for her (sometimes called Electra Complex) is a desire for the father and fear/hatred of the mother, leading to repression of such feelings.Freud proposed that sex and aggression drives motivated behaviour whereas Adler believed that a sense of inferiority and a lifetime of compensation was the motivating factor. He believed in only one driving force behind our behaviour, the striving for perfection, that leads us closer to how we want to be. He believed that as adults we have the capacity to change and grow, allowing us to change what we dont like, whereas Freud suggested these were fixed in childhood. Adler looked at individuals in their individual social situation, looking at influences such as parenting styles, families and birth order, and how they compensated to overcome inferiorities. He believed that we become stable and helpful human beings by success in the three life tasks of love, work and social intera ction, of which we are in control.Neo-Freudians including Adler, Jung, and Erikson, known as Neo-Freudians because of their early associations with Freudian theory but later developing their own spin on things, also put emphasis on social relationships. Both individual psychology and humanistic psychology hold that the individual is the best influence of their needs, desires, interests, and growth within society.