Alfred Adler Theories
To name all of Alfred Adler’s theories would be quite a feat, since he was always coming up with new ways to study the human mind. Still, some of his thoughts are more prevalent than others.
Alfred Adler theories really begin from the moment that he formed the psychoanalytic school along with Sigmund Freud. However, some of his more interesting concepts actually have to do with the way that he viewed himself indirectly through other people. Confused? Well, if you were to look closely at all the greatest psychological concepts in the world, you would probably find that the inventor of any concept was largely staring straight into a looking glass.
For example, Freud was more than obsessed with sexuality, which may seem just another way of looking at the world – until you delve deep into Freud’s actual biography. You see, Freud was also plagued by the inability to find the sexual organs of eels (yes, eels), which caused him to hunt for sexuality all his life. Now, you may be wondering what Freud and eels have to do with Adler and his own presumptions pertaining to the human mind. Well (as you will soon see), Freud and his slithering friends have a lot to do with Adler.
One of Alfred Adler’s theories is concerned with birth order. In fact, if you have ever heard someone talk about how an older child is often the over-achiever, this concept is directly taken from Adler’s “birth order” theory. How does this reflect upon his own personality? Adler was the youngest boy in his family. As such, his older brother gained most of his parents’ attention. Throughout his life, Adler was intensely jealous of his older brother, and he always set out to rival him. See how Adler was really studying his own life, though he may not have known it?
Most psychology professors understand that students wishing to study psychology are really seeking clues (subconsciously) as to their own life. This way of looking at the field of psychology makes a whole lot of sense when you stop to think about Freud and Adler, doesn’t it? Though there are many theories in the world today, one must always stop to find the root of the theory before believing it is entirely truthful. Sound tricky? Well, it is – and this is precisely why only a select few study psychology today.
As you have now discovered, Alfred Adler theories directly pertain to him. Now, that is not to say that they cannot be applied to any other person, but they certainly do reflect his own life.