Individual Psychology

Compensation, mastery of the environment, birth order, fantasy life and its relation to life goals. Adler eschews the chaotic unconscious for the self's dream for significance and correcting one's past blunders through turning the tables, but will our hero/heroine's story emphasize social interest, or succumb to pettiness, avoidance and/or using others?

Style of life

Takeaway: Social consciousness is good, self-centeredness is bad

Despite being from Freud's time, Adler forgoes sexual pathogenesis of neuroses and structures of the mind. They're replaced with a personal fantasy narrative (guiding fiction) based off early life events, one's striving to overcome limitations through adaptation (compensation), underpinned by a style of life based on social usefulness.

Mistaken styles are styles of life that are detrimental or neglectful to society. The ruling type are aggressive enforcers and busybodies who dominate other's; authoritarian. The getting type pathologically depends on others. Avoiding types detach from society and retreat into themselves in a schizoid fashion. Compare to Fromm's escape mechanisms or Horney's neurotic trends.

Developmental theory

Takeaway: Spoiling kids is bad

Pampering

Care must be taken to avoid pampering children, which can give them a sense of entitlement. Neglect of children can cause children to lack trust in others and believe the world is a cruel place.

Earliest recollection

1921: The Neurotic Character

Terms