Transcript Slide 1
Alfred Adler 1870 - 1937 INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY Alfred Adler 1902 1910 1912 Joined Freud's discussion group on neurotics Co-founder with Freud Journal of Psychoanalyses Separates from Freud and founds the Society for Individual Psychology 2 Freud and Adler Agreements Disagreements Symptoms have a purpose Dreams are meaningful Influence of early life on later life Theory of instincts Biological determinism Role of transference in therapy 3 View of Human Nature Holistic and social view of humans Humans are Social beings who choose their goals, they are selfdetermined, decision-makers All behavior is purposeful Freedom to choose implies values and meanings Social interest is the most important value The main motivation for behavior is striving for significance Phenomenological approach 4 Social Interest Adler’s most significant and distinctive concept Refers to an individual’s attitude toward and awareness of being a part of the human community Mental health is measured by the degree to which we successfully share with others and are concerned with their welfare Happiness and success are largely related to social connectedness 5 Striving for Significance Compensating for weaknesses Attaining a unique identity Achieving a sense of belonging Security Competence (vs. sense of inferiority) 6 Phenomenological Approach Adlerians attempt to view the world from the client’s subjective frame of reference How life is in reality, is less important than how the individual believes life to be It is not the childhood experiences per se that are crucial, but our recollections and interpretations of these events 7 Life presents challenges in the form of Life Tasks 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Society Work Sex Spiritual ability to share with others making a contribution to others achieving intimacy personal meaning in life, relation with cosmos Coping with oneself self-acceptance 8 Family Constellation Primary social environment where the child, through exploration and observation, learns what gains approval and how to achieve significance (sense of competence and acceptance). 9 Life Style Conclusions about the self, others, and the environment based on subjective experiences with parents and siblings. Conceptualized as a cognitive structure or map from which we apprehend reality and interpret experience 10 Life Style It is largely out of awareness and includes convictions about: Self-concept Who I am Self-ideal Who should I be to be significant The World around What others demand of me Ethical beliefs Sense of right and wrong 11 Psychologically Healthy Individuals Have developed social interest Commit self to life-tasks w/o excuses Have a sense of belonging Have positive self-esteem and feel acceptable Are able to accept their imperfections 12 Concept of Psychopathology Discouragement Acting as if one is inferior Avoid life tasks Symptoms function as excuses for avoiding life-tasks and save face 13 Purpose of Maladaptive Behaviors (Dinkmeyer) Behavior Call Attention Power Struggle Revenge Display Hopelessness Feeling Irritated Challenged Hurt Hopeless 14 Adlerian Therapy Cooperative and educational enterprise Goals -- Help clients: Change faulty thinking and mistaken assumptions Increase social interest Decrease inferiority complex Overcome discouragement Make changes in their lifestyle (mistakes, perceptions, goals) 15 Faulty Thinking and Mistaken Assumptions (Private Logic) Overgeneralizations: life is dangerous; people are mean False or impossible goals of security: I must please everybody Misperceptions of life demands: To succeed you must be perfect. Denial of self-worth Faulty values: succeed no matter what. 16 Stages of Therapy I. II. III. IV. Establishing the Relationship Assessment: Exploring the Individual’s Dynamics Gaining Insight Reorientation 17 I. Establishing the Relationship Collaborative relationship Based on trust Attend to subjective experience of client Exploration of client’s issues Setting general goals Learning process 18 II. Assessment To explore the clients’ life-style and how it affects life tasks Techniques The Life Assessment: Topics Explore how initial concern(s) relates to life tasks Experiences in family constellation Early recollections (content and associated affect) Number one priority of client The Question – examine secondary gain of symptom (What if…?) (e.g. psychosomatic symptoms) 19 III. Gaining Insight Help the client understand their life style and how it affects engagement in the life-tasks: Explore faulty perceptions, mistaken beliefs, and values Understand their own role in creating problems Gain awareness of responsibility for actions 20 III. Gaining Insight : Techniques Interpretation Bring to awareness client's goals and beliefs and how they motivate their behaviors Focus on purposes and consequences of behaviors Confrontation – Challenge clients with: Discrepancies in clients conduct Rationalizations for behavior, mistaken beliefs, private goals, and unproductive behavior 21 IV. Reorientation Action oriented phase to help clients put insights into practice and get the courage to make changes in their lives. Techniques: Immediacy Paradoxical Intention Spitting on the soup Catching oneself Acting as-if Push-button technique Task setting 22 IV. Reorientation: Techniques 1/2 Immediacy (parallel process) Paradoxical intention prescribe the symptom Spitting in the soup attending to behaviors occurring in the therapy relation to help clients explore their motivations and behaviors identify secondary gain of a given behavior or symptom Catching oneself to help gain control of behaviors one wants to change 23 IV. Reorientation: Techniques 2/2 Acting as-if Push button technique Rehearse desired behaviors Imagine pleasant and unpleasant situations and attend to feelings generated Task setting Step-wise process of behavior change to assure success, foster feelings of encouragement, and increase self-esteem 24 Encouragement Encouragement is the most powerful method available for changing a person’s beliefs Helps build self-confidence and stimulates courage Discouragement is the basic condition that prevents people from functioning Courage develops when people Become aware of their strengths Feel that they belong Have hope for their lives 25 Adler’s Contributions Precursor of cognitive-based therapies and the existential approach Emphasis on educational and preventive aspects of psychology – Adler’s ideas have been applied to marriage counseling, family counseling and group work. Influential in the training of counselors for schools and community health services Emphasis on human’s ability to change and focus on positive aspects and strengths of patients 26 Limitations Adler’s writings were difficult to apply directly to developing counseling interventions Applications of his theory have been formulated by his followers 27 Neo-Freudian Minimized role of psycho-sexual stages Culture, spirituality, society also influence personality and behavior Personality development occurs through life-span 28