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Chapter 4: Problem 1

How might Adler's personality and life experiences have influenced his belief that: (a) conscious and unconscious act together to serve a person's chosen goals, and personality is not torn by painful inner conflicts? (b) introspectiveness is one of the characteristics with which the "weakling" seeks to defend himself? (c) inherited instincts are a "superstition" and have no effect on personality? (d) unhealthy character traits (such as arrogance and shyness) and anxiety are "cheap tricks" for avoiding life's difficulties, whereas neurosis is also an "easy way of escape?"

Short Answer

Expert verified
Adler's life experiences were highly influential in forming his psychoanalytical theories. Overcoming physical health issues and personal struggles predisposed him towards believing in the power of self-determination and personal goal-setting in shaping one's personality. These personal experiences reflected in his dismissive stance towards introspectiveness, inherited instincts, and unhealthy character traits being tools for escaping life's difficulties.

Step by step solution

01

Analysis of Adler's belief about conscious and unconscious

Understanding Adler's life, his struggles with rickets in early childhood that left him unable to walk until he was four, experiencing humiliation during his school years, highly likely influenced his belief that the unconscious and conscious work together in serving a person's chosen goals and in eliminating inner conflicts. His personal struggles magnified his understanding of the human psychology and the role of self-determination.
02

Understanding the relationship between introspectiveness and 'weakling'

Adler's perception of introspection being a defensive mechanism employed by 'weaklings' can be interpreted from his own experiences. Overcoming his physical constraints and the desire to compete with his older brother may have led him to promote social interest and understanding over introspection.
03

Adler's views on 'inherited instincts'

Adler valued the individuality and unique personality of each person. He might have dismissed the concept of 'inherited instincts', viewing them as excuses or diversions from personal responsibility and self-improvement. His own struggles were probably influential in this belief.
04

Analyzing Adler's perspective on unhealthy character traits and neurosis

Adler was a proponent of the concept that each individual has the power to shape their personality and overcome challenges. This could have influenced his characterization of 'unhealthy' traits and neurosis as 'cheap tricks' and 'easy ways of escape', understanding them as default mechanisms to avoid confronting life's challenges directly. His belief might have been reinforced by his own experiences of overcoming physical health challenges in his early years and striving for success.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Give an example from real life, or from a well-known novel, to show how "fictions" can strongly influence behavior.

Adler argues that brilliant children should be placed in regular school classes, and not in gifted classes, so they can accelerate the progress of less capable students. (a) What personal reasons might Adler have had for such a belief? (b) Do you agree? Why or why not?

Adler argues that social interest should establish the guidelines for proper personality development, rather than a superego. (a) Is this idea likely to be readily accepted in this country? (b) Give a real-life example of a person, or group of people, whose striving for superiority is lacking in social interest and harmful to society.

Give an example from your own life, from the life of someone you know well, or from fiction to illustrate: (a) how pampering leads to a painful inferiority complex, (b) how neglect leads to a painful inferiority complex, (c) how an inferiority complex may be concealed beneath a superiority complex, (d) how an organ inferiority can lead to a painful inferiority complex, (e) a person who rejects social interest by "[building] a wall around himself [so as] to be secure in the possession of his wretched treasures,"(f) a healthy style of life.

What is the difference between praising or blaming a child's success or failure and blaming the personality of the child? Illustrate with an example.
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