Adler

Ad·ler (ädlr, d-), Alfred 1870-1937.

Austrian psychiatrist. He rejected Sigmund Freud's emphasis on sexuality and theorized that neurotic behavior is an overcompensation for feelings of inferiority.

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Adler [ad´ler]

Alfred (1870–1937). Austrian psychiatrist who dissented from Freud's emphasis on the role of infantile sexuality in personality development. He started a psychological movement called individual psychology to indicate that the individual is viewed as a unified personality and an indivisible unit. He introduced the terms inferiority feelings and overcompensation and taught that the child has inferiority feelings in relation both to parents and to other people. This sense of inadequacy stems from the child's physical immaturity, uncertainty, dependence upon parents and society, and a painful feeling of subordination to others. This leads to compensatory reactions and a striving for significance, achievement, and superiority. In cases in which the feelings of inferiority are overpowering and a child fears never being able to compensate for perceived weakness and inadequacy, he or she may develop an exaggerated striving for power and dominance (overcompensation), characterized by great haste and impatience, violent impulses, lack of consideration for others, and grandiose goals; a different manner of overcompensation is to become passive and dependent. Many of Adler's views have been adopted by other schools of psychiatry.