Alfred Adler was in the early twentieth century one of Sigmund Freud’s most important students. He presented an alternative version of psychoanalysis, which emphasized the importance of understanding the role of social forces in shaping individuals. Rather than analyzing the separate parts of the mind, he focused on how external forces affect people. Which he names ‘individual psychology’.
He was best known for his emphasis on the role of feelings of inadequacy as a root cause of neurosis, and for his belief that children’s natural susceptibility to these feelings made them especially vulnerable to psychological problems. Adler believed that feelings of inferiority were caused by childhood experiences, such as being treated unfairly or having a parent who failed to provide affection. These feelings could motivate people to improve themselves through hard work and determination. In adulthood, similar feelings could lead people to make excessive efforts to succeed and strive for recognition. Others might try to compensate for perceived deficiencies by adopting an arrogant attitude towards other people, or with obsessive methods to overcome their inferiority.
