Adler

ADLER

 

[I should point out here that the final statement turned out to be utterly false.  One of Freud’s major contributions to theory (and least understood or utilized) is that the therapist should regard everything that the client says as true.  On the surface, this may seem naive, it has several advantages.  First, it is much easier to remember what the client has said in previous sessions.  Second, the patient probably experiences reality differently than does the therapist.  Finally, and most important, it is much easier to question the client when he or she makes a statement that contradicts and earlier one.  In this contradiction is most likely an opportunity for intervention.] 

 

3.c.:  Evaluation, limitations, unique contributions, most and least liked.

     While Freud's terminology and basic concepts are extremely useful from a theoretical and diagnostic standpoint, they are limited in that they emphasize sexual urges and the ability of the individual to change through conscious cognition is depreciated.  Adler, on the other hand, shifts the focus from sexual urges to power or superiority, defined as perceived improvement in ones status, abilities, and/or competence -- the drive to "master" a situation.  Gemeinschaftsgefühl is the key to Adler's therapeutic approach -- working with the client to develop a social interest ("intuition" might be a better translation although mnemonically "feeling" is close enough).

     The strength of Adler's theory lies in the more optimistic view of humankind to change and develop and on the focus on individual differences.  Through awareness of our irrational beliefs and self-defeating behavior, we can change and gain this power.  In addition, it allows for the variance in perceptions from one individual to another.  No two people perceive reality (whatever that is) alike because they come to it not only with different sensory capacities but with different minds shaped by their backgrounds which greatly influences their perceptions of reality.  Indeed, if our entire makeup were determined prior to the age of six, there would be no sense in trying to change it and there would be no reason for therapists. 

     I would alter the concept of Gemeinschaftsgefühl from being perceived as an end to employment as a means of obtaining personal power.  It seems to imply that one can only be happy or have personal power when accepted by a group whereas one aspect of personal power seems to me the ability to transcend the need for belonging and the concomitant subscription to group norms.  Eventually, of course, the individual through self-sufficiency may well become integrated into a group with similar norms and values, but the establishment of health individual norms and values should take precedence.

     I will discuss birth order under personal application, below.

3.d.:  Concepts and techniques I want to incorporate.

     Fictional finalism (I do wish the German terms were available here) seems an inherent stressor that I would like to incorporate -- strongly akin to Ellis' irrational beliefs.  I would certainly incorporate the capacity for change through cognitive activity which would include encouraging insight.  Acceptance of the individual and encouragement are very important.  The phenomonological view of reality is essential in understanding individual differences.  I would still use some of the Freudian terms, internally, to come to a basic understanding of these differences, but I would not employ them in communicating that understanding.  Adler's Weltanschauung is superior in helping a client to develop Selbstgefühl (or self-reliance -- cf. Gemeinschaftsgefühl).

     When appropriate, I would employ any or all of the techniques listed in Corey (150-151).  One that could work very well with intelligent, introverted clients is called "Acting as If" (151) or role-playing.  It should be possible to teach a client how to role-play a "type."  Once the client knows the type of person to play, he or she is protected behind that role.  If the role evokes the desired reactions from people, he or she may wish to incorporate some of its characteristics into his or her behavior.  If it fails, only the role failed, not the client.  Another approach can be attempted with little ego-damage.

3.e.: Personal application.

     The order of birth or place in the family is important in development.  I am a first child.  I believe that one of the characteristics of a first or only child is introspection and a striving for self-improvement.  My sister, second in line, fits Adler's profile in that she was and is entirely conventional.  The next sister combined these characteristics to some extent.  I was most like my father and they were most like my mother.  While growing up, I could at times communicate with the youngest but almost never with the older.  I had not kept in touch with either of them until my father's death, however, and I noticed that I could communicate with my oldest sister who was and is very materialistic.  At least we were able to organize the disposition of the estate.  The youngest one became impossible to deal with as her emotionalism was entirely undirected.

     However, more important as I look back, was my main peer group in high school (before that groups were less defined, it seems to me).  I can list nine of them immediately.  Of those nine, five were only children.  I was close to being an only child as our household became sharply divided as to father/mother alliances and the same applied to the other first child.  The remaining two were last children and nothing at all like their parents or society expected.  There were no middle children whatsoever.  As I think of secondary relationships beyond the group, no group member was involved with a middle child either.

     Before that I had discovered the role playing or "Acting as If" technique.  By the time I had found the primary group, I was also involved in two other groups, one completely athletic and the other completely socio-sexual.  I found both groups shallow. (Locker room conversation and discussions of the weather and "top 40" music can be stifling.)  However, without first being able to "master" inclusion into these groups, membership in the primary group may not have happened.  With the primary group, knowledge of Sartre and enjoyment of Bach was an asset, not a characteristic to be suppressed.  (Parenthetically, the only person I know of who had a working knowledge of Zen and became a major league baseball player was Bill Lee who was given the nickname of "spaceman."  He did, however, say that negotiating with the team owner while sitting in the Lotus position gave him a psychological edge.)

3.f.: Questions to pursue further.

     There are several questions to pursue further.  His approach to women seems enlightened.  I would like to find out more about specific techniques.  His own versions of "perversions," having talked once of "curing" a man of homosexuality and his attitudes towards masochism and sadism are interesting, but they seem quaint by today's standards.  Since his approach serves as the basis for other, more modern, approaches (Existential, REBT, etc.), I will be pursuing those instead of delving further into Adler.  I would say my approach will be much closer to Adler's than Freud's.