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On the 7th February 1870 the
third child was born to the Adlers. a son, whose family background
helped him formulate some of the theories upon which he built his
“Individual Psychology.”
In 1895. Alfred Adler graduated in medicine,
and established a successful medical practice near the well known Prater
in Vienna Many of his patients worked in the surrounding areas and
depended on manual skills to earn their living. These included workers
from the numerous restaurants and cafes, as well as circus acrobats and
artists. Their ailments together with some of his childhood experiences,
led to the development of the theory of overcompensation. He recalled
how a childhood illness affected his vocal chords which resulted in
feelings of inferiority. To overcome this he developed a” strong
interest in music... a strong dependable voice and a gift for delivery,”
Adler points out that it is not the disability that is crucial but the
use the person makes of ii.
In 1897 Alfred Adler married a Russian young
lady from his student ears. Raissa Epstein, with whom he built a closely
knit family. They had three daughters and a son, Kurt. still an active
Adlerian psychologist himself
As a doctor Adler looked upon his patients
as “whole “ persons not as isolated organs or ailments. In fact that is
what the title “Individual Psychology” means. He also believed in the
importance of the kind of relationship the doctor established with his
patients.
For Adler healing his patients was a
vocation, so much so that he was haunted and baffled when he was not
totally successful. As he searched for further understanding of human
behaviour he shifted from medicine to psychology. In his earlier he was
attracted to Freud’s dream theory. He, together with Jung formed part of
Freud’s circle of four who met every Wednesday to discuss works,
theories and philosophies, particularly those related to neurotic
behaviour. This group later became known as the Psychoanalytic Society
Adler became involved in this group, and we find him occupying the post
of president of the Vienna branch and co-editor of the Entraihlatt fur
Psychoanalyse. of which Freud was editor-in- chief
Psychology meant so much for Adler that he
gave up his private practice as a family physician to specialize in
psychiatry. In 1911 Freud and Adler had an irrevocable split. Their
theories about human behaviour and motivation could not be reconciled.
In his book, Memories, Dreams, Reflections C.G. Jung, calls this split,
“more than a domestic quarrel in the domain of psychology.”
Adler was never a disciple of Freud. Abraham
Maslow, (G. Manaster et al, 1977) recalls an unusual outburst of
anger” he witnessed one day as he was having dinner with Adler. This was
brought about when Maslow asked Adler to comment upon a statement he
read which said that “Adler the disciple, is reported to have broken
away from his master.” Maslow recalls that this was the only time he
heard Adler express an opinion on Freud when he said that this was a
“sly” version of events spread by Freud himself A year later Adler
formed his own society which he called the “Society for Individual
Psychology.”
His beliefs in the motivation to belong and
goal-directed behaviour led him to open a number of child guidance
clinics throughout Austria. These later spread to Germany and other
countries. He wanted to take part in the school reform being carried out
at that time, and believed as well as proved, that this could be carried
out by working with the child, the parents, and the teachers at the same
time. By the end of the 1920’s there were about two such clinics
in Vienna alone.
He went on lecturing at institutes,
universities, and in cafes consistent with his belief in adult
education. His followers increased so much that he had to acquire a
substantial residence to host colleagues and students, He was invited to
lecture at a number of colleges and universities all over America. In
1926 his lecturing tours took to New York, Harvard. Rhode Island,
California, and Chicago amongst other cities. At this stage in his life
he started having daily English language lessons so that he could
deliver his lectures in English.
As winds of political change blew over
Europe, Adler and his family emigrated to America in 1935. He held
chairs at Columbia University and Long Island Medical College. He was an
indefatigable worker.
In the Spring of 1937 he was on European
tour giving a number of lectures. On May 28th just before he was about
to give a lecture in Aberdeen, Scotland, he went for a walk. He was
worried about his daughter’s trip to relatives in Russia because of the
political instability at that time. In his last letter to his daughter
Nellie, a month earlier he confessed that ..“.Vali causes me sleepless
nights. I am surprised how I can endure it..”
On his way to the University of Aberdeen he
suffered a heart attack and died on the way to the hospital.
Adler was guided by the conviction that “The
science of human nature.... can have /be its proper goal only the
understanding of human nature by every human being.
Some of the concepts he built his
psychological ideas on are;
• man is a social being,
• all human behaviour is purposive,
• man is a decision making organism,
• man is a whole being who cannot be
understood by some partial characteristics,
• man does not see reality as it is, but
only as perceives it, and his perception may be mistaken or biased.
Drs. Rowena and Heinz Ansbacher, personal
friends of Adler, who collected and wrote about his papers, saw his
strength and his unusual modesty and gentleness in the way he greeted
people. Rowena interprets his attitude as saying ,“Welcome who ever you
are, do not be anxious, I shall do whatever I can for you.”
Abraham Maslow wrote. “for me, Alfred Adler
becomes more and more correct year by year. As the facts come in, they
give stronger and stronger support to his image of men. I should say
that in one respect especially the times have not yet caught up with
him.
Joyce Callus. MA
Chairperson
Malta Adlerian Psychology Association (MAPA)
References:
Dreikurs, R. and Cassel, P. Discipline
Without Tears Penguin Books, New York. 1991
Dreikurs, R. Child Guidance and Education
Chicago, 1974.
Ferguson Dreikurs, Eva. AdlerianTheory - An
Introduction, Chicago. 1995.
Manaster, G. et al. Alfred Adler: As we
Remember Him North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. 1977.
Schulman, B. Contributions to Individual
Psychology Chicago, 1981.
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