Alfred Adler (1870–1937) was an Austrian psychologist and psychiatrist. He founded the school of individual psychology—his system emphasizes the uniqueness of the individual and his/her relationships with society.
Born and trained in Vienna, Adler first practiced as an ophthalmologist but later turned to mental disease and became a prominent member of the psychoanalytical group that formed around Sigmund Freud in 1900.
Adler’s best-known work was Studie über Minderwertigkeit von Organen (1907; Study of Organ Inferiority and its Psychical Compensation,) which provoked considerable controversy. In 1911, he broke with Freud—he disagreed with Freud’s idea that mental illness is caused by sexual conflicts in infancy. Arguing that society and culture were significant factors, Adler developed his system of ‘Individual Psychology’—emphasizing investigating the psychology of the individual considered as different from others.
Adler introduced the term “inferiority feeling” (often inaccurately called “inferiority complex,”) which he explained is usually compensated for by assertive or aggressive behavior. Adler developed flexible, supportive psychotherapy to direct those emotionally disabled by inferiority feelings toward maturity, common sense, and social usefulness.
During their lifetimes, Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis was rapidly accepted, and it overshadowed Adler’s Individual Psychology. Nonetheless, Freud’s theories have since been revised, and later schools of psychology are increasingly compatible with Adler’s original position.
Adler’s other published works include The Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology (trans 1923) and Understanding Human Nature (trans 1927.) Many of his later writings, such as What Life Should Mean to You (1931,) were intended for the general reader.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Alfred Adler
Exaggerated sensitiveness is an expression of the feeling of inferiority.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Feelings, Inferiority
There is a law that man should love his neighbor as himself. In a few hundred years it should be as natural to mankind as breathing or the upright gait; but if he does not learn it he must perish.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Friendship, Love
The only worthwhile achievements of man are those which are socially useful.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Society, Achievement
Our modern states are preparing for war without even knowing the future enemy.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: War
Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Action, Events, Trust
The test of one’s behavior pattern; relationship to society, relationship to one’s work, relationship to sex.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Manners, Behavior
The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Behavior, Reality, Opportunities
We must interpret a bad temper as a sign of inferiority.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Inferiority
The greater the feeling of inferiority that has been experienced, the more powerful is the urge to conquest and the more violent the emotional agitation.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Inferiority
We only regard those unions as real examples of love and real marriages in which a fixed and unalterable decision has been taken. If men or women contemplate an escape, they do not collect all their powers for the task. In none of the serious and important tasks of life do we arrange such a “getaway.” We cannot love and be limited.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Marriage
To be human means to feel inferior.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Inferiority
No experience is a cause of success or failure. We do not suffer from the shock of our experiences so-called trauma – but we make out of them just what suits our purposes.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Experience
Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared; but only men of character are trusted.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Virtues, Character
The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Caution
It is the patriotic duty of every man to lie for his country.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Patriotism
There is only one reason for an individual to side-step to the useless side: the fear of a defeat on the useful side.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Defeat
My difficulties belong to me !
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Difficulty
War is organized murder and torture against our brothers.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: War
Death is really a great blessing for humanity without it there could be no real progress. People who lived for ever would not any hamper and discourage the young, but they would themselves lack sufficient Stimulus to be creative.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Blessings
The style of life is a unity because it has grown out of the difficulties of early life and out of the striving for a goal.
—Alfred Adler
The truth is often a terrible weapon of aggression. It is possible to lie, and even to murder, with the truth.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Truth
It is always easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Wisdom, Hypocrisy, Character
There can be but a single goal of education, and that—education to courage.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Education
If ever we hear a case of lying, we must look for a severe parents. A lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt as dangerous.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Truth
The Don Juans among men and the light-o’-loves among women are afraid of marriage.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Marriage
Man know much more than he understands.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Understanding, Knowledge
To be a human being means to possess a feeling of inferiority which constantly presses towards its own conquest. The greater the feeling of inferiority that has been experienced, the more powerful is the urge for conquest and the more violent the emotional agitation.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Feelings
Imperfect preparation gives rise to the thousand-fold forms that express physical and mental inferiority and insecurity.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Preparation
War is not the continuation of politics with different means, it is the greatest mass-crime perpetrated on the community of man.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: War
It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring.
—Alfred Adler
Topics: Giving, Kindness, Service
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