1 Personality Psychology Psychology 370 Sheila K. Grant, Ph.D. Professor Part II: The Psychoanalytic-Social Perspective  Many theorists who regarded themselves as orthodox Freudians are now considered Psychoanalytic-social theorists.  Anna Freud elaborated on concept of ego defenses  Hartmann stressed role of ego in organizing / integrating personality.  Adler emphasized striving aspects of personality & social context of development.  Ego’s role includes adapting to relationships with other people (Erikson, Sullivan).  Theorists in chapter 4-6 (Adler, Erikson, & Horney, with later relational theorists) discussed interpersonal aspects of the ego’s functioning, beginning in family & extending to society. Part II: The Psychoanalytic-Social Perspective  Assumptions of the Psychoanalytic-social perspective:  Ego, adaptational force in personality, is more important than in Freud’s theory.  Development of a sense of self is described.  Interpersonal relationships, beyond relationship with parents, are important aspects of personality.  Social and cultural factors influence personality in important ways.2 CHAPTER FOUR ADLER: Individual Psychology Chapter Overview  Illustrative Biography: Oprah Winfrey  Striving From Inferiority Toward Superiority  Inferiority  Fictional Finalism  The Unity of Personality  Style of Life  Mistaken And Healthy Styles of Life  The Development of Personality  Parental Behavior  Family Constellation  Psychological Health  Social Interest  The Three Tasks of Life  Interventions Based On Adler’s Theory  School  Therapy Preview of Adler’s Theory3 Alfred Adler  Born into a Jewish family in Vienna (1870)  Second son in a family of four boys and two girls  Unhealthy childhood  Competitive with his brothers  Medical degree from Vienna University at 1895  Joined the psychoanalytic group in 1902  Moved to the US in 1935  Died in 1937 while on a lecture tour in Scotland Illustrative Biography: Oprah Winfrey  Development  Fluctuations in parental support & discipline  Description  Oprah’s style of life seems to be one of getting attention, love, & admiration by speaking to a group of people  Adjustment  Oprah’s life exemplifies a well-adjusted person not pursuing only selfish goals, but also contributing to society (“social interest)  Cognition  Oprah’s “felt minus” or fictional finalism or goal based on social class & privilege  Society  Influences from society allowed opportunity for Oprah’s ascendance  Biology Final Thoughts:  Oprah’s dissatisfaction with nonwhite features Striving From Inferiority Toward Superiority  Inferiority  Fictional Finalism4 Inferiority Adler's Evolving Ideas about Striving to Improve: • Organ Inferiority: Compensation for weakness leads to strength • Aggressive Drive: experienced as fighting or competition • Masculine Protest: seeking the privilege associated with the male gender role  Striving to become more masculine (powerful) • Feelings of inferiority are motivational • Superiority Striving: striving to achieve personal best • Perfection Striving: inherent motivation toward personal growth Inferiority Inferiority Complex  Stagnation of growth in which difficulties seem too immense to be overcome  feeling one never will be strong enough  feeling one never will be intelligent enough  i.e., Inferiority Complex:  When feeling of inferiority act as barriers Striving for Superiority • Striving for superiority is fundamental fact of life • Later emphasis on striving for social/cultural superiority Superiority Complex  neurotic belief that one is better than others  feeling no one else is as athletically fit  feeling one’s own ideas are better than anyone else’s  Individual striving greater than social striving5 Fictional Finalism • Creative self:  Each person is “the artist of his own personality”  This creativity is compensatory Fictional Finalism • Fictional Finalism:  A person’s image of the goal of his or her striving  An imagined goal or desirable future state  Subjective experience rather than objective reality The Unity of Personality6 The Unity of Personality The Development of Personality • Parental Behavior • Family Constellation Parental Behavior • The Pampered Child • The Neglected Child7 Parental Behavior • Parenting Training Programs Advice for Raising Healthy Children, Derived from Adler’s Approach FAMILY CONSTELLATION The influence of number, age, and sex of sibling on personality development8 Firstborn Child  Adler's prediction: a problem child  experiences “dethronement” when the next child is born  may try too hard and become exhausted Second-Born Child  most favorable  Peace maker Youngest Child • Problem children • risks being pampered9 Only Child • Risks developing a “mother complex” • Research shows a similar personality to firstborns Research on Birth Order • Shows weak and inconsistent effects, which vary depending on other factors (such as culture) • Does not consistently confirm Adler’s predictions, though there are many supportive findings Sulloway’s Analysis of Scientific Revolutions • conservatism of first-born scientists • rebellion of later-born scientists  Copernicus  Darwin10 Psychological Health  Social Interest  The Three Tasks of Life Social Interest • sense of community and shared tasks • essential for mental health • measurement • positive effects on social behaviors, health, job satisfaction, etc. Examples of Questions Suggested by Adler to Measure Psychological Health in Children11 The Three Tasks of Life • Work • Love • Social Interaction Interventions Based On Adler’s Theory Stages of Adlerian Psychotherapy12 Chapter Review  Striving From Inferiority Toward Superiority  The Unity of Personality  The Development of Personality  Psychological Health  Interventions Based On Adler’s