UNR PSY 435 TEST 2 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
What are the key aspects of Adler's childhood? - ANS Alfred Adler was born on February 7,
1870, in Rudolfsheim, a village near Vienna. His mother, Pauline, was a hard- working
homemaker who kept busy with her seven children. His father, Leopold, was a middle- class
Jewish grain merchant from Hungary. As a young boy, Adler was weak and sickly and at age 5,
he nearly died of pneumonia.
What is social interest? - ANS Social interest can be defined as an attitude of relatedness with
humanity in general as well as an empathy for each member of the human community. It
manifests itself as cooperation with others for social advancement rather than for personal gain
How did Adler view the unconscious? - ANS Adler believed that psychologically healthy
people are usually aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it. Adler defined the
unconscious as that part of the goal that is neither clearly formulated nor completely
understood by the individual.
What is the role of "inferiority" in Adler's theory? - ANS The one dynamic force behind
people's behavior is the striving for success or superiority. Individual psychology holds that
everyone begins life with physical deficiencies that activate feelings of inferiority— feelings that
motivate a person to strive for either superiority or success. Psychologically unhealthy
individuals strive for personal superiority, whereas psychologically healthy people seek success
for all humanity.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, According to Adler, what is the primary motivation underlying human behavior? - ANS Adler
reduced all motivation to a single drive; the striving for success or superiority. Adler called the
single dynamic force striving for superiority.
What is the function of safeguarding tendencies? Describe each. - ANS Adler believed that
people create patterns of behavior to protect their exaggerated sense of self- esteem against
public disgrace. These protective devices, called safe-guarding tendencies, enable people to
hide their inflated self image and to maintain their current style of life. Adlerian safeguarding
tendencies are largely conscious and shield a person's fragile self- esteem from public disgrace.
How does Adler incorporate the body into his theory of personality? - ANS To Adler, people
are born with weak, inferior bodies— a condition that leads to feelings of inferiority and a
consequent dependence on other people. Therefore, a feeling of unity with others ( social
interest) is inherent in people and the ultimate standard for psychological health.
"organ inferiority," - ANS Adler insisted that the whole human race is " blessed" with organ
inferiority. These physical handicaps have little or no importance by themselves but become
meaningful when they stimulate subjective feelings of inferiority, which serve as an impetus
toward perfection or completion.
"organ dialect," - ANS The disturbance of one part of the body cannot be viewed in isolation;
it affects the entire person. In fact, the deficient organ expresses the direction of the individual's
goal, a condition known as organ dialect. Through organ dialect, the body's organs " speak a
language which is usually more expressive and discloses the individual's opinion more clearly
than words are able to do"
"masculine protest." - ANS According to Adler, cultural and social practices— not anatomy—
influence many men and women to overemphasize the importance of being manly, a condition
he called the masculine protest.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
AND ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
What are the key aspects of Adler's childhood? - ANS Alfred Adler was born on February 7,
1870, in Rudolfsheim, a village near Vienna. His mother, Pauline, was a hard- working
homemaker who kept busy with her seven children. His father, Leopold, was a middle- class
Jewish grain merchant from Hungary. As a young boy, Adler was weak and sickly and at age 5,
he nearly died of pneumonia.
What is social interest? - ANS Social interest can be defined as an attitude of relatedness with
humanity in general as well as an empathy for each member of the human community. It
manifests itself as cooperation with others for social advancement rather than for personal gain
How did Adler view the unconscious? - ANS Adler believed that psychologically healthy
people are usually aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it. Adler defined the
unconscious as that part of the goal that is neither clearly formulated nor completely
understood by the individual.
What is the role of "inferiority" in Adler's theory? - ANS The one dynamic force behind
people's behavior is the striving for success or superiority. Individual psychology holds that
everyone begins life with physical deficiencies that activate feelings of inferiority— feelings that
motivate a person to strive for either superiority or success. Psychologically unhealthy
individuals strive for personal superiority, whereas psychologically healthy people seek success
for all humanity.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, According to Adler, what is the primary motivation underlying human behavior? - ANS Adler
reduced all motivation to a single drive; the striving for success or superiority. Adler called the
single dynamic force striving for superiority.
What is the function of safeguarding tendencies? Describe each. - ANS Adler believed that
people create patterns of behavior to protect their exaggerated sense of self- esteem against
public disgrace. These protective devices, called safe-guarding tendencies, enable people to
hide their inflated self image and to maintain their current style of life. Adlerian safeguarding
tendencies are largely conscious and shield a person's fragile self- esteem from public disgrace.
How does Adler incorporate the body into his theory of personality? - ANS To Adler, people
are born with weak, inferior bodies— a condition that leads to feelings of inferiority and a
consequent dependence on other people. Therefore, a feeling of unity with others ( social
interest) is inherent in people and the ultimate standard for psychological health.
"organ inferiority," - ANS Adler insisted that the whole human race is " blessed" with organ
inferiority. These physical handicaps have little or no importance by themselves but become
meaningful when they stimulate subjective feelings of inferiority, which serve as an impetus
toward perfection or completion.
"organ dialect," - ANS The disturbance of one part of the body cannot be viewed in isolation;
it affects the entire person. In fact, the deficient organ expresses the direction of the individual's
goal, a condition known as organ dialect. Through organ dialect, the body's organs " speak a
language which is usually more expressive and discloses the individual's opinion more clearly
than words are able to do"
"masculine protest." - ANS According to Adler, cultural and social practices— not anatomy—
influence many men and women to overemphasize the importance of being manly, a condition
he called the masculine protest.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
