ANCIENT&
not so ancient
WISDOM
offering a weekly positive perspective
July
22, 2004
 "The
chief danger in life is that you may take too many
precautions."
- Alfred Adler (1870 - 1937)
Alfred
Adler, born in 1870, was the second of six children. Adler
spent his childhood in the suburbs of Vienna. He had a
self-described "bad" childhood that dealt with
illnesses and accidents. When he was 5 years old, gravely
ill with pneumonia, the physician told his father that he
doubted the child would recover. He did recover. His brother
did not from a later illness. When his brother died, Alfred
decided he wanted to become a doctor so that he might be
able to fight deadly diseases.
Although,
his father thought that Adler would aspire to greatness, he
was only a mediocre student. Having lost interest in school,
he failed in mathematics. His teacher suggested that his
father take Alfred out of school and apprentice him to a
cobbler. His father scoffed at the teacher and expressed his
disapproval of him to his son. Alfred decided to show the
teacher what he could do and in a short time he was first in
his class in mathematics. He continued with his schooling
until he became a neurologist in 1895 with an M.D. degree
from the University of Vienna.
In
1898, Adler wrote his first book at the age of 28. Based on
his study of the health conditions of tailors, he stated the
necessity of looking at man as a functioning entity,
reacting to environment and physical endowment, rather than
as a summation of instincts, drives and other psychological
manifestations.
In
1902, Freud sent him a hand-written postcard suggesting he
join the circle, which met weekly in Freud's home to discuss
newer aspects of psychopathology. Although Adler was one of
the few who reacted favorably to Freud’s book on dream
interpretations, he had already started collecting material
on patients with physical handicaps, studying both their
organic and psychological reactions to them – a direction
very counter to Freud’s theories. Only when Freud had
assured him that in his circle a variety of views, including
Adler's, would be discussed did Adler accept the invitation.
In
1907, Adler published his book on organ inferiority and its
compensation. The differences between Freud and Adler's
views increased. Each tried to win the other over to
his point of view in long discussions and in 1911 with a
group of eight colleagues Adler left Freud’s circle and
formed his own school. After that, Freud and Adler never met
again. Adler's theory focused on social forces, and his
therapy, while still concerned with the analysis of early
childhood, was also interested in overcoming the inferiority
complex through positive social interaction.
In
1912 Adler published, The Neurotic Constitution, in
which he developed his main concepts. He called his
psychological system "Individual Psychology," a
term which refers to the indivisibility of the personality
in its psychological structure. He developed the theory of
personality that describes how social interaction, birth
order, life style, and family influences combine to form the
personality of a person. Besides these things he also used
the terms "finalism," which describes a goal or
ambition that drives a person, and "superiority,"
which is a persons drive to be perfect.
After
returning from war duty in 1918, Adler founded a group of
child guidance clinics in Vienna that were visited by
professionals from abroad, stimulating the development of
clinics in other countries.
In
1926 Adler was invited to lecture at Columbia University. In
1932, he was appointed the first chair of Visiting Professor
of Medical Psychology at Long Island College of Medicine. He
and his family moved to the United States permanently in
1935.
On
May 28, 1937, he was in Aberdeen, Scotland, to deliver a
series of lectures when he collapsed while walking on the
street and died from heart failure.
Edward
Hoffman, Ph.D., biographer of Alfred Adler, highlights five
specific elements vital to Adler’s success:
1)
He was optimistic by nature.
2)
He made his message clear and down-to-earth, avoiding
scientific jargon, and instead using examples familiar to
everyone in daily life.
3)
He was willing, even eager, to “talk psychology” with
persons from many different backgrounds, not only
professionals in mental health, social science, or
education.
4)
He kept growing intellectually, refusing to rest on laurels
and past accomplishments.
5)
He always kept the "big picture" in mind.
Wishing
you great and continued success in all pursuits of business.
Sincerely,
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