Psychology – Theories of Personality
Study Guide
Western Mindanao State University
Alfred Adler (1870 – 1937)
Biography:
• Grew in Vienna, family of six boys and two girls
• Understanding Human Nature was the first major psychology book
• Created 32 child guidance clinics in the Vienna public schools and began training teachers,
social workers, physicians and other professionals
• Pioneered the practice of teaching professionals through live demonstrations with parents and
children before the large audience.
• Love to sing, enjoy music and be with friendship
• Collapsed and died of heart failure
View of Man
• Man is optimistic, self determination, goal oriented
• Capable of taking responsibility, create own destiny and find meaning
• Goal oriented and sense of belonging
• Will for power / striving for superiority
• Creative self-potential of each person to interact with the world
• Focus on how the person’s perception of the past and his or his interpretation of early events has
a continuing influence
• Focuses on inferiority feelings, which he saw as a normal condition of all people and as a sense
of all human striving
• Human behavior is not determined solely by heredity and environment
• Biological and environmental conditions limit our capacity to choose and create
• Focus on reeducating individuals and reshaping society
• Subjective approach to psychology that focuses on internal determinants of behavior such as
values, beliefs, attitudes, goals, interests and the individual perception of reality
• 1st systematic therapist in that he maintain that it is essential to understand people within the
system in which they live.
Theories and key concepts
• Teleology – life movement toward purpose and goal
• Phenomenological psychology – life movement toward purpose and goal
• Social Interest – ability to participate & the willingness to contribute to society
• Life Tasks
◦ Social – friendship
◦ Love marriage – establishing intimacy
◦ Occupational – contributing to society
• Holism – One’s personality is complete unity (Mosak, 2005)
• Striving for significance and superiority – striving for perfection and coping with inferiority
by seeking mastery that are innate
Study Guide
Western Mindanao State University
Alfred Adler (1870 – 1937)
Biography:
• Grew in Vienna, family of six boys and two girls
• Understanding Human Nature was the first major psychology book
• Created 32 child guidance clinics in the Vienna public schools and began training teachers,
social workers, physicians and other professionals
• Pioneered the practice of teaching professionals through live demonstrations with parents and
children before the large audience.
• Love to sing, enjoy music and be with friendship
• Collapsed and died of heart failure
View of Man
• Man is optimistic, self determination, goal oriented
• Capable of taking responsibility, create own destiny and find meaning
• Goal oriented and sense of belonging
• Will for power / striving for superiority
• Creative self-potential of each person to interact with the world
• Focus on how the person’s perception of the past and his or his interpretation of early events has
a continuing influence
• Focuses on inferiority feelings, which he saw as a normal condition of all people and as a sense
of all human striving
• Human behavior is not determined solely by heredity and environment
• Biological and environmental conditions limit our capacity to choose and create
• Focus on reeducating individuals and reshaping society
• Subjective approach to psychology that focuses on internal determinants of behavior such as
values, beliefs, attitudes, goals, interests and the individual perception of reality
• 1st systematic therapist in that he maintain that it is essential to understand people within the
system in which they live.
Theories and key concepts
• Teleology – life movement toward purpose and goal
• Phenomenological psychology – life movement toward purpose and goal
• Social Interest – ability to participate & the willingness to contribute to society
• Life Tasks
◦ Social – friendship
◦ Love marriage – establishing intimacy
◦ Occupational – contributing to society
• Holism – One’s personality is complete unity (Mosak, 2005)
• Striving for significance and superiority – striving for perfection and coping with inferiority
by seeking mastery that are innate
