Tip: click a paragraph to jump to the exact moment in the video. Adler: Narcissism is Social, Striving for Superiority, Excess Self-efficacy (Contra Freud)

1. 00:02 Wherever there are two Jews, there are three opinions. Ziggman Freud and Alfred Adler in Vienna of the turn of the century and the beginning of the new one were no exception. They had a harrowing conflict which to some extent debilitated both of them. And here I am, your own private Jew, Sam Vaknin, author of Malignant Self-Love, Narcissism Revisited, and a professor of psychology, about to describe to you the in-n-outs and the secrets of this battle royale, of this debate, of this argument which persisted for decades between Wherever there are two Jews, there are three opinions. Ziggman Freud and Alfred Adler in Vienna of the turn of the century and the beginning of the new one were no exception. They had a harrowing conflict which to some extent debilitated both of them. And here I am, your own private Jew, Sam Vaknin, author of Malignant Self-Love, Narcissism Revisited, and a professor of psychology, about to describe to you the in-n-outs and the secrets of this battle royale, of this debate, of this argument which persisted for decades between
2. 00:47 these two figures who used to be each other’s greatest fans and ended up being bitter, virulent enemies. A similar dynamic has taken place between Zigman Freud and Carl Gustav Jung. Now Alfred Adler was lucky enough to die before the Anelus before the Germans appropriated in the next Austria. So he didn’t see the Nazi the real Nazi atrocities culminating in Awitz. He was a creature of the late 19th century, the founder. He was uh he immigrated into the 20th century pretty reluctantly and at the same time he was a visionary these two figures who used to be each other’s greatest fans and ended up being bitter, virulent enemies. A similar dynamic has taken place between Zigman Freud and Carl Gustav Jung. Now Alfred Adler was lucky enough to die before the Anelus before the Germans appropriated in the next Austria. So he didn’t see the Nazi the real Nazi atrocities culminating in Awitz. He was a creature of the late 19th century, the founder. He was uh he immigrated into the 20th century pretty reluctantly and at the same time he was a visionary
3. 01:38 and a prophet. someone who so deep into the human heart and understood the motivations and attitudes of normal people as well as power hungry people. We’re going to discuss all this in a minute. Now, Alfred Adler was, as I said, a key member of the cult of Ziggman Freud, also known as the Vienna Psychoanalytical Society. He was the first president of the society in 1908. He was also invited by postcard, believe it or not, to the first 1902 incarnation of the society. It was known at the time and a prophet. someone who so deep into the human heart and understood the motivations and attitudes of normal people as well as power hungry people. We’re going to discuss all this in a minute. Now, Alfred Adler was, as I said, a key member of the cult of Ziggman Freud, also known as the Vienna Psychoanalytical Society. He was the first president of the society in 1908. He was also invited by postcard, believe it or not, to the first 1902 incarnation of the society. It was known at the time
4. 02:26 as the wedd psychological society and it met in Freud’s home. By the way, for those of you who like to travel, Freud’s home is currently a museum and you can visit it. It has been largely preserved as it were when Freud had to flee Austria to the United Kingdom. Anyhow, Alfred Adler was invited to the society not as Freud’s student or disciple or fan, but as Freud’s equal, as Freud’s colleague. Adler was pretty known by that time and he became even more prominent having acceded to or having been inducted into as the wedd psychological society and it met in Freud’s home. By the way, for those of you who like to travel, Freud’s home is currently a museum and you can visit it. It has been largely preserved as it were when Freud had to flee Austria to the United Kingdom. Anyhow, Alfred Adler was invited to the society not as Freud’s student or disciple or fan, but as Freud’s equal, as Freud’s colleague. Adler was pretty known by that time and he became even more prominent having acceded to or having been inducted into
5. 03:12 the society. And yet among psychoanalytical cycles in the 1930s and 1940s he came to be known as the most prominent traitor to the doctrine or traitor to the cause. He has he established his own influential school. Like many others in the psychoanalytical movement, Adler was actually a physician, a medical doctor, exactly like Ziggman Freud. And at the same time, bizarrely, he was a social activist and a political activist. Perhaps this is the reason that in his later work he emphasized social wrongs as the precursors of the society. And yet among psychoanalytical cycles in the 1930s and 1940s he came to be known as the most prominent traitor to the doctrine or traitor to the cause. He has he established his own influential school. Like many others in the psychoanalytical movement, Adler was actually a physician, a medical doctor, exactly like Ziggman Freud. And at the same time, bizarrely, he was a social activist and a political activist. Perhaps this is the reason that in his later work he emphasized social wrongs as the precursors of
6. 04:01 mental illness. Whereas classical psychoanalysis and literally all the schools that follow attribute mental illness to internal psychological dynamics and processes. Internal psychonamics. Adler claimed that mental illness is induced from the outside. It’s the it’s the outcome. It’s a result of reacting to a sick society. You become mentally ill because you grow up in you reside within or you’re embedded in a mentally ill society and culture. The rise of Nazism later seemed to have vindicated mental illness. Whereas classical psychoanalysis and literally all the schools that follow attribute mental illness to internal psychological dynamics and processes. Internal psychonamics. Adler claimed that mental illness is induced from the outside. It’s the it’s the outcome. It’s a result of reacting to a sick society. You become mentally ill because you grow up in you reside within or you’re embedded in a mentally ill society and culture. The rise of Nazism later seemed to have vindicated
7. 04:45 Adler’s predictions about human nature, Adler’s insights. Adler, by the way, married someone from the house of Epstein. Yeah, like Jeffrey Epstein. Her name was Raisa Tomvna Epstein. And as the name implies, she was a bit Russian. As a medical doctor, Adler’s practice was focused on the poor. Most of his work was pro bono. And yet this exposure to poor, underprivileged, uneducated people gave him insights into what later beam became his theory of inferiority versus superiority and the psychological mechanism of Adler’s predictions about human nature, Adler’s insights. Adler, by the way, married someone from the house of Epstein. Yeah, like Jeffrey Epstein. Her name was Raisa Tomvna Epstein. And as the name implies, she was a bit Russian. As a medical doctor, Adler’s practice was focused on the poor. Most of his work was pro bono. And yet this exposure to poor, underprivileged, uneducated people gave him insights into what later beam became his theory of inferiority versus superiority and the psychological mechanism of
8. 05:34 compensation. Compensation currently is a very dominant idea in modern psychology. Yet it was not in invented by Freud. Was invented by Adler. It was appropriated by Freud. Freud generally speaking was one of the world’s greatest plagiarists of all time. Okay. In 1907, Alfred Dudler published a book. It was titled study of organ inferiority and its physical compensation. In this book, he suggested that neurosis was a biological thing. He conflicted and confronted Freud because Freud suggested that neurosis is a compensation. Compensation currently is a very dominant idea in modern psychology. Yet it was not in invented by Freud. Was invented by Adler. It was appropriated by Freud. Freud generally speaking was one of the world’s greatest plagiarists of all time. Okay. In 1907, Alfred Dudler published a book. It was titled study of organ inferiority and its physical compensation. In this book, he suggested that neurosis was a biological thing. He conflicted and confronted Freud because Freud suggested that neurosis is a
9. 06:20 psychological thing. Even Freud attributed neurosis and other forms of mental disorders to some kind of mysterious psychic energy later came to be mislabeled as cathexis by ferency. Anyhow, Adler never agreed with Freud from the get-go from the first minute. His emphasis was absolutely bionurological. In his theory of organ inferiority, other speculated that illnesses are forms of physical physical handicaps. He said that mental illness is actually bodily. It’s physical. So Adler was one of the pioneers of neuroscience and the psychological thing. Even Freud attributed neurosis and other forms of mental disorders to some kind of mysterious psychic energy later came to be mislabeled as cathexis by ferency. Anyhow, Adler never agreed with Freud from the get-go from the first minute. His emphasis was absolutely bionurological. In his theory of organ inferiority, other speculated that illnesses are forms of physical physical handicaps. He said that mental illness is actually bodily. It’s physical. So Adler was one of the pioneers of neuroscience and the
10. 07:09 medicalization of psychology. turning it into psychiatry. He said that all disabilities are the results of inferior organs or body body structures, the brain first and foremost. He defined organ inferiority as an organ that is unable to perform its function to a sufficient degree in order, as he put it, to satisfy a standard of required effectiveness. An inferior organ is unable to meet the demands of the body. But an inferior organ is also unable to meet the demands and expectations of society of the medicalization of psychology. turning it into psychiatry. He said that all disabilities are the results of inferior organs or body body structures, the brain first and foremost. He defined organ inferiority as an organ that is unable to perform its function to a sufficient degree in order, as he put it, to satisfy a standard of required effectiveness. An inferior organ is unable to meet the demands of the body. But an inferior organ is also unable to meet the demands and expectations of society of the
11. 07:54 prevailing dominant hegemonic culture. In other words, bodily functioning is a social construct as well as a biological or bionurological thing. What Adler did, he fused, he merged what today we call sociology with what today we call psychology and he created actually psycho sociology or socio psychology or sociobiology. Ada said that an organ cannot be inferior only by heredity. That it requires some kind of deletterious corrupting process which we call this is illness. It requires a convergence between some kind of prevailing dominant hegemonic culture. In other words, bodily functioning is a social construct as well as a biological or bionurological thing. What Adler did, he fused, he merged what today we call sociology with what today we call psychology and he created actually psycho sociology or socio psychology or sociobiology. Ada said that an organ cannot be inferior only by heredity. That it requires some kind of deletterious corrupting process which we call this is illness. It requires a convergence between some kind of
12. 08:50 vulnerability in the organ to start with and environmental demands and exertions and exigencies and vagaries that cannot be sufficiently met by the organ. This is an this is a kind of uh rendering of the concept of adaptation in evolutionary biology. And so Adler was the father of the idea of maladaptation or negative adaptation versus positive adaptation in psychology. This idea has provenence in biology long before Adler, but he definitely was the one who introduced it into psychology. You must vulnerability in the organ to start with and environmental demands and exertions and exigencies and vagaries that cannot be sufficiently met by the organ. This is an this is a kind of uh rendering of the concept of adaptation in evolutionary biology. And so Adler was the father of the idea of maladaptation or negative adaptation versus positive adaptation in psychology. This idea has provenence in biology long before Adler, but he definitely was the one who introduced it into psychology. You must
13. 09:32 understand that Adler and Freud were operating concurrently. They were publishing and writing and working with clients and patients at the very same time. It is easy to trace the influence, concepts and ideas of Adler in Freud’s work and Freud gives him very little credit from time to time here and there and yet ignores the major contributions of Adler to Freud’s own psychoanalytical theory. For example, Freud’s idea was uh borrowed idea of the death instinct or aggression as a motivating force as a dynamic or understand that Adler and Freud were operating concurrently. They were publishing and writing and working with clients and patients at the very same time. It is easy to trace the influence, concepts and ideas of Adler in Freud’s work and Freud gives him very little credit from time to time here and there and yet ignores the major contributions of Adler to Freud’s own psychoanalytical theory. For example, Freud’s idea was uh borrowed idea of the death instinct or aggression as a motivating force as a dynamic or
14. 10:17 energy. These are not Freudian ideas. These are not Freudian original contributions. They were borrowed from Adler. Borrowed is a gentle charitable term. I think the correct term is plagiarized, stolen. And so Adler said that when an organ fails, it’s a function of society, culture, demands that cannot be met either because the organ is constitutionally frail or vulnerable or because the demands are crazy or because the demands are too honorous or because the demands have nothing to do with the organ. In other words, Adler energy. These are not Freudian ideas. These are not Freudian original contributions. They were borrowed from Adler. Borrowed is a gentle charitable term. I think the correct term is plagiarized, stolen. And so Adler said that when an organ fails, it’s a function of society, culture, demands that cannot be met either because the organ is constitutionally frail or vulnerable or because the demands are crazy or because the demands are too honorous or because the demands have nothing to do with the organ. In other words, Adler
15. 11:03 suggested that we could have a situation of maladaptation or negative adaptation in society. The entire society, the totality of culture can be mentally ill, sick, inferior, malfunctioning and then the organism just reacts to it by a failure of its own. Of course, Adler accepted the fact that a failure is also a function of the relative drive strength associated with any particular organ. Organs have energies that are dedicated to fulfilling certain functions, executive functions, other functions. suggested that we could have a situation of maladaptation or negative adaptation in society. The entire society, the totality of culture can be mentally ill, sick, inferior, malfunctioning and then the organism just reacts to it by a failure of its own. Of course, Adler accepted the fact that a failure is also a function of the relative drive strength associated with any particular organ. Organs have energies that are dedicated to fulfilling certain functions, executive functions, other functions.
16. 11:48 And when they fail either because of some innate internal vulnerability or dysfunction or they fail because or the environment is maladapted and sick. Whatever the reason for the failure, the organ is trying to compensate for the failure. And here comes the idea of compensation. One of the most famous compensations is pathological narcissism. And I’ll come to it in a minute. Adler has dealt with narcissism without actually ever using the word. So he said that an individual can help or compensate for certain defects And when they fail either because of some innate internal vulnerability or dysfunction or they fail because or the environment is maladapted and sick. Whatever the reason for the failure, the organ is trying to compensate for the failure. And here comes the idea of compensation. One of the most famous compensations is pathological narcissism. And I’ll come to it in a minute. Adler has dealt with narcissism without actually ever using the word. So he said that an individual can help or compensate for certain defects
17. 12:31 by choosing an attitude. In other words, it is the individual who has the agency of compensating and there is a strong element of choice or decision making. You know in we go through life blaming other people or blaming circumstances or attributing guilt to institutions or whatever. But the truth is that many of our failures and defeats are of our own making. We choose we choose abuse. We choose to be abused. We choose to not be loved. We choose to fail. It is a dec decision to be defeated. Our contribution to our own predicaments by choosing an attitude. In other words, it is the individual who has the agency of compensating and there is a strong element of choice or decision making. You know in we go through life blaming other people or blaming circumstances or attributing guilt to institutions or whatever. But the truth is that many of our failures and defeats are of our own making. We choose we choose abuse. We choose to be abused. We choose to not be loved. We choose to fail. It is a dec decision to be defeated. Our contribution to our own predicaments
18. 13:22 is huge. And Adler was the first to recognize this. He said that depending on the attitude, compensations for disabilities or limitations could be either satisfactory and effective or unsatisfactory and ineffective. Sometimes he said people use their own disability, their own illness, their own defects and deformities. People use and leverage these as excuses. Excuses to not act. excuses to preserve some kind of fantasy. And he says it’s a pity because they would have gained success. They would have accomplished things had is huge. And Adler was the first to recognize this. He said that depending on the attitude, compensations for disabilities or limitations could be either satisfactory and effective or unsatisfactory and ineffective. Sometimes he said people use their own disability, their own illness, their own defects and deformities. People use and leverage these as excuses. Excuses to not act. excuses to preserve some kind of fantasy. And he says it’s a pity because they would have gained success. They would have accomplished things had
19. 14:10 they not done this. Whereas sometimes disabled people would tell you, I could have succeeded and I could have been accomplished had I not had my disability. Adler says exactly the opposite. He puts he puts this argument on its head. He says what you should say, I’m going to succeed and I’m going to accomplish despite my defect, despite my disability, and maybe even I’m going to leverage them. I’m going to make good use of them. Adler began to regard feelings of inferiority as a standard apparatus, standard they not done this. Whereas sometimes disabled people would tell you, I could have succeeded and I could have been accomplished had I not had my disability. Adler says exactly the opposite. He puts he puts this argument on its head. He says what you should say, I’m going to succeed and I’m going to accomplish despite my defect, despite my disability, and maybe even I’m going to leverage them. I’m going to make good use of them. Adler began to regard feelings of inferiority as a standard apparatus, standard
20. 14:50 machinery in both the human soul, the human psyche and human existence. He came to believe that inferiority, superiority are the two poles within which adult personality is determined. They are determinants. There is some similarity here to Freud. Exactly like Freud, Adler saw the child’s early response to physiological and psychological pressures as important in determining later physi psychological development. In other words, it was Freud who placed emphasis on childhood, the formative years, and Adler accepted machinery in both the human soul, the human psyche and human existence. He came to believe that inferiority, superiority are the two poles within which adult personality is determined. They are determinants. There is some similarity here to Freud. Exactly like Freud, Adler saw the child’s early response to physiological and psychological pressures as important in determining later physi psychological development. In other words, it was Freud who placed emphasis on childhood, the formative years, and Adler accepted
21. 15:35 this. But whereas Freud was focused on what he called the drive states, urges, especially the sexual or the sex drive, the sexual urge. Adler focused on the social environment, on interactions, on relational aspects, on interpersonal relationships, and on the child’s feelings about his or her place in the world, especially visav parental figures, role models, peers, and so on. It is Adler’s view that has prevailed today. We are all Adlerans especially following the introduction into psychology of the works of Mala and this. But whereas Freud was focused on what he called the drive states, urges, especially the sexual or the sex drive, the sexual urge. Adler focused on the social environment, on interactions, on relational aspects, on interpersonal relationships, and on the child’s feelings about his or her place in the world, especially visav parental figures, role models, peers, and so on. It is Adler’s view that has prevailed today. We are all Adlerans especially following the introduction into psychology of the works of Mala and
22. 16:21 Pia and Bandura and many others. Today we tend to poo poo if not ridicule Freud’s obsession with sex. His view that everything is determined sexually, his sexualization of psychology. has been utterly rejected even by Freud himself in the 1930s. Actually, what has happened is that Freud considered late in his life that Adler has been right all along and that he has been wrong. He didn’t consider it of course verbally. He never admitted to it. He was a very venlorious and arrogant person. But his work changed and his Pia and Bandura and many others. Today we tend to poo poo if not ridicule Freud’s obsession with sex. His view that everything is determined sexually, his sexualization of psychology. has been utterly rejected even by Freud himself in the 1930s. Actually, what has happened is that Freud considered late in his life that Adler has been right all along and that he has been wrong. He didn’t consider it of course verbally. He never admitted to it. He was a very venlorious and arrogant person. But his work changed and his
23. 17:10 work changed to the point that he actually started idearizing ideorizing Adler. What is ide to ideize? To ideize is to plagiarize ideas. He was plagiarizing Adler’s ideas. Adler was the precursor of what today we call social cognitive learning theories which are the dominant theories nowadays. According to Adler to be human to be a human being means to feel that you are somehow inferior. He said the feeling of inferiority is universal whether you acknowledge it or not. You always feel inferior. work changed to the point that he actually started idearizing ideorizing Adler. What is ide to ideize? To ideize is to plagiarize ideas. He was plagiarizing Adler’s ideas. Adler was the precursor of what today we call social cognitive learning theories which are the dominant theories nowadays. According to Adler to be human to be a human being means to feel that you are somehow inferior. He said the feeling of inferiority is universal whether you acknowledge it or not. You always feel inferior.
24. 17:55 Why do you always feel inferior? Because as a child you are by definition inferior to your parents. And then as you grow up and become an adult you are always inferior to someone. You always compare yourself to other people. There’s always what we call today relative positioning. And of course social media have leveraged this Adleran insight. Social media are completely adaran in the sense that they encourage this competition in people. They profit and monetize people’s inferiority complex. Why do you always feel inferior? Because as a child you are by definition inferior to your parents. And then as you grow up and become an adult you are always inferior to someone. You always compare yourself to other people. There’s always what we call today relative positioning. And of course social media have leveraged this Adleran insight. Social media are completely adaran in the sense that they encourage this competition in people. They profit and monetize people’s inferiority complex.
25. 18:37 The child said Adler comes into the world as a helpless little bundle, a helpless little creature surrounded by powerful godlike figures known as adults. A child is motivated by feelings of inferiority. And inferiority is so uncomfortable. It is so upsetting. It is so threatening. You know, if you feel inferior and small and helpless and hopeless, it’s threatening that the child begins instantaneously to compensate. And one of the first mechanisms of compensation is striving. striving for greater things, attempting The child said Adler comes into the world as a helpless little bundle, a helpless little creature surrounded by powerful godlike figures known as adults. A child is motivated by feelings of inferiority. And inferiority is so uncomfortable. It is so upsetting. It is so threatening. You know, if you feel inferior and small and helpless and hopeless, it’s threatening that the child begins instantaneously to compensate. And one of the first mechanisms of compensation is striving. striving for greater things, attempting
26. 19:20 to accomplish, to conquer, trying to develop and grow, to acquire things and so on. And when the child reaches one level of development, the child again feels inferior and again strives for better, greater things. And this is a driving force of mankind. As in psychoanalysis, a child will emerge at each stage having either resolved a conflict or having failed to resolve a conflict. And then this exerts large in large influence into later life. When the child fails to resolve an early childhood conflict, the child to accomplish, to conquer, trying to develop and grow, to acquire things and so on. And when the child reaches one level of development, the child again feels inferior and again strives for better, greater things. And this is a driving force of mankind. As in psychoanalysis, a child will emerge at each stage having either resolved a conflict or having failed to resolve a conflict. And then this exerts large in large influence into later life. When the child fails to resolve an early childhood conflict, the child
27. 20:03 tends to compensate by maladucting by developing a psychopathology. When the child succeeds to resolve a conflict, the child moves on to the next conflict to the next stage. But childhood is never ever conflict free because it is according to Adler a desperate attempt to escape the knowing allconsuming feeling of inferiority. Inferiority. This is what came to be known later colloquially as the inferiority complex. At each developmental stage in Adler’s approach, the healthy outcome is for the tends to compensate by maladucting by developing a psychopathology. When the child succeeds to resolve a conflict, the child moves on to the next conflict to the next stage. But childhood is never ever conflict free because it is according to Adler a desperate attempt to escape the knowing allconsuming feeling of inferiority. Inferiority. This is what came to be known later colloquially as the inferiority complex. At each developmental stage in Adler’s approach, the healthy outcome is for the
28. 20:47 child to emerge with feelings of efficacy, self-efficacy rather than inferiority. So Adler said the opposite of a sense of inferiority is a sense of self-efficacy. But if self-efficacy is taken too far, if it becomes delusional and fantastic, the child develops a sense of superiority. Too much self-efficacy is as bad as not enough self-efficacy. to remind you what is self-efficacy. It is the sense that you are able to extract favorable outcomes from your environment including the human environment. It is the belief that you child to emerge with feelings of efficacy, self-efficacy rather than inferiority. So Adler said the opposite of a sense of inferiority is a sense of self-efficacy. But if self-efficacy is taken too far, if it becomes delusional and fantastic, the child develops a sense of superiority. Too much self-efficacy is as bad as not enough self-efficacy. to remind you what is self-efficacy. It is the sense that you are able to extract favorable outcomes from your environment including the human environment. It is the belief that you
29. 21:38 can somehow act in the environment and on the environment in ways which would promote your goals. In Adler’s view, neurosis arise when these efforts to compensate for feelings of inferiority are either too weak and so they’re ineffective as defenses or they’re excessive resulting in what he called overcompensation. Overcompensation in Adler’s work was described as a tendency to be aggressive to wield power and control via externalized aggression. Adler was the main figure in psychology to have can somehow act in the environment and on the environment in ways which would promote your goals. In Adler’s view, neurosis arise when these efforts to compensate for feelings of inferiority are either too weak and so they’re ineffective as defenses or they’re excessive resulting in what he called overcompensation. Overcompensation in Adler’s work was described as a tendency to be aggressive to wield power and control via externalized aggression. Adler was the main figure in psychology to have
30. 22:25 introduced the idea of aggression into the discourse. Adler said that cultural forces teach us to regard the feeling of inferiority as a sign of weakness, as a form of failure, as a vulnerability. And so you should never feel inferior. You should be ashamed if you feel inferior. It is society that pushes us to be stronger, to be richer, to be more powerful, to be more accomplished. This is a social drive that couples with a child’s innate drive to avoid feeling inferior towards adults. And so society leverages introduced the idea of aggression into the discourse. Adler said that cultural forces teach us to regard the feeling of inferiority as a sign of weakness, as a form of failure, as a vulnerability. And so you should never feel inferior. You should be ashamed if you feel inferior. It is society that pushes us to be stronger, to be richer, to be more powerful, to be more accomplished. This is a social drive that couples with a child’s innate drive to avoid feeling inferior towards adults. And so society leverages
31. 23:10 this internal drive, what what Adler called the striving. Society leverages this for its own ends and means. Society uses or abuses the child’s need to become more or the child’s need to become. Society abuses this in order to further the goals of society itself. There is a variable natural tendency to disguise inferiority. There is a drive motivation attitude a motivational attitudinal framework for accomplishing and for striving and society takes advantage of this. In some cases, the individual may put so much this internal drive, what what Adler called the striving. Society leverages this for its own ends and means. Society uses or abuses the child’s need to become more or the child’s need to become. Society abuses this in order to further the goals of society itself. There is a variable natural tendency to disguise inferiority. There is a drive motivation attitude a motivational attitudinal framework for accomplishing and for striving and society takes advantage of this. In some cases, the individual may put so much
32. 23:55 energy into concealing the feeling of inferiority, disguising it that the individual becomes unaware of it. Is the individual becomes completely preoccupied with the consequences of the feelings of inferiority. how to conceal them, how to pretend, how to fake, how to so this kind of indiv individual becomes a narcissist because the only solution to camouflage, to disguise, to suppress, to repress, to ignore, to pretend, to fake the only solution is narcissism. The feeling that you are somehow innately superior, inherently superior. energy into concealing the feeling of inferiority, disguising it that the individual becomes unaware of it. Is the individual becomes completely preoccupied with the consequences of the feelings of inferiority. how to conceal them, how to pretend, how to fake, how to so this kind of indiv individual becomes a narcissist because the only solution to camouflage, to disguise, to suppress, to repress, to ignore, to pretend, to fake the only solution is narcissism. The feeling that you are somehow innately superior, inherently superior.
33. 24:38 And so Adler actually explored narcissism as a social as a reaction to some kind of social cultural dimension. He he he explored the social cultural aspects of pathological narcissism. Inferiority complex or superiority complex in Adler’s work are just different sides of the same psychopathological coin. Both of them reflect deep-seated feelings of shame and inferiority. Only the solutions are different. Healthy people confront their own shame and inferiority and this drives them to accomplish things to be And so Adler actually explored narcissism as a social as a reaction to some kind of social cultural dimension. He he he explored the social cultural aspects of pathological narcissism. Inferiority complex or superiority complex in Adler’s work are just different sides of the same psychopathological coin. Both of them reflect deep-seated feelings of shame and inferiority. Only the solutions are different. Healthy people confront their own shame and inferiority and this drives them to accomplish things to be
34. 25:20 happy, to become stable and balanced. Unhealthy people who later become narcissists, they develop a fantastic delusional self-concept. They claim or believe that they are superior and this way they disguise their inferiority but it is a festering wound. You can lie to yourself only that much. This creates a very fragile and brittle and vulnerable personality structure open to challenges and criticism. People with superiority complex, a superiority complex also feel inferior but out of denial they present happy, to become stable and balanced. Unhealthy people who later become narcissists, they develop a fantastic delusional self-concept. They claim or believe that they are superior and this way they disguise their inferiority but it is a festering wound. You can lie to yourself only that much. This creates a very fragile and brittle and vulnerable personality structure open to challenges and criticism. People with superiority complex, a superiority complex also feel inferior but out of denial they present
35. 26:02 themselves as powerful as superior as geniuses as as uh godlike as you know they’re trying to dominate others via some kind of narrative. This narrative is the shared fantasy. They pursue goals which are exclusively selfish. They refuse to interact with other people’s or with society or to cooperate or to collaborate with others because it reminds them how inferior they are. They attempt to take without giving because giving is a weakness and enhances their sense of superior of inferiority. themselves as powerful as superior as geniuses as as uh godlike as you know they’re trying to dominate others via some kind of narrative. This narrative is the shared fantasy. They pursue goals which are exclusively selfish. They refuse to interact with other people’s or with society or to cooperate or to collaborate with others because it reminds them how inferior they are. They attempt to take without giving because giving is a weakness and enhances their sense of superior of inferiority.
36. 26:40 So this idea of inferiority superiority tends to explain not only the psycho psychological or psychonamic ideology of pathological narcissism but also the social behaviors what the ICD calls dissoci calls to some extent antisociality. Psychologically healthy people are driven by feelings of inferiority. They’re driven to work. They’re driven to study. They’re driven to accomplish. They’re driven to strive. And this solves the problem successfully. Whereas inferiority and superiority So this idea of inferiority superiority tends to explain not only the psycho psychological or psychonamic ideology of pathological narcissism but also the social behaviors what the ICD calls dissoci calls to some extent antisociality. Psychologically healthy people are driven by feelings of inferiority. They’re driven to work. They’re driven to study. They’re driven to accomplish. They’re driven to strive. And this solves the problem successfully. Whereas inferiority and superiority
37. 27:21 complexes actively prevent people from act from from being active. The narcissist is paralyzed actually like an ant in amber. The amber is the inferiority, the shame. And the ant by not moving pretends that there is no amber. The universal innate striving for superiority carries individuals from one stage to the next. There appears to be some kind of kinetic motion, but it’s all running in one in one place. It’s all futile. It leads nowhere. The striving for superiority is healthy. I want to explain this very subtle complexes actively prevent people from act from from being active. The narcissist is paralyzed actually like an ant in amber. The amber is the inferiority, the shame. And the ant by not moving pretends that there is no amber. The universal innate striving for superiority carries individuals from one stage to the next. There appears to be some kind of kinetic motion, but it’s all running in one in one place. It’s all futile. It leads nowhere. The striving for superiority is healthy. I want to explain this very subtle
38. 28:07 distinction that many many scholars even u fail to realize. So in Adler’s work the striving to be superior the attempt to be superior is a positive thing because it pushes you carries you from one stage of personal development to another. It encourages you to accomplish things, to set goals, to plan, to pursue things. So the the drive to be superior, to exceed yourself is a positive drive. It is only when this drive becomes a complex, only when it becomes um detached from reality, only when it distinction that many many scholars even u fail to realize. So in Adler’s work the striving to be superior the attempt to be superior is a positive thing because it pushes you carries you from one stage of personal development to another. It encourages you to accomplish things, to set goals, to plan, to pursue things. So the the drive to be superior, to exceed yourself is a positive drive. It is only when this drive becomes a complex, only when it becomes um detached from reality, only when it
39. 28:51 becomes delusional and fantastic that we have a narcissism. And Adler said that the drive to exceed yourself, the drive to be superior to others, is by definition a form of aggression. When you say, “I’m better than you,” you are being aggressive. It’s an aggressive statement. It’s impolite. It’s univil, but it’s also hurtful. So, there’s a lot of aggression in this drive to develop. He he equated personal development and growth with the transmutations and transformations of becomes delusional and fantastic that we have a narcissism. And Adler said that the drive to exceed yourself, the drive to be superior to others, is by definition a form of aggression. When you say, “I’m better than you,” you are being aggressive. It’s an aggressive statement. It’s impolite. It’s univil, but it’s also hurtful. So, there’s a lot of aggression in this drive to develop. He he equated personal development and growth with the transmutations and transformations of
40. 29:30 aggression. Whereas Freud emphasized the force of life, libido, including the sexual component, the aeros, Adler emphasized aggression as far more important than sexuality. Adler did accept the role of sexuality and the role of the life drive, life energy. He did accept them but he said that aggression is much more important even in altruism even in self-improvement aggression rules and this is very reminiscent of course of Niche’s work nich’s will to power regarded the striving for control for aggression. Whereas Freud emphasized the force of life, libido, including the sexual component, the aeros, Adler emphasized aggression as far more important than sexuality. Adler did accept the role of sexuality and the role of the life drive, life energy. He did accept them but he said that aggression is much more important even in altruism even in self-improvement aggression rules and this is very reminiscent of course of Niche’s work nich’s will to power regarded the striving for control for
41. 30:12 power as a major source of neurosis and crime in other words made the distinction He said, “If you strive to be superior just in order to become a better person, a more accomplished person, this is healthy. But if you strive to be superior in order to control other people and have power over them, then this is mentally ill. This is the source of neurosis and criminal behavior. It’s a mental disease. And this is what he called the superiority complex. All people suggested Adler, all people are driven power as a major source of neurosis and crime in other words made the distinction He said, “If you strive to be superior just in order to become a better person, a more accomplished person, this is healthy. But if you strive to be superior in order to control other people and have power over them, then this is mentally ill. This is the source of neurosis and criminal behavior. It’s a mental disease. And this is what he called the superiority complex. All people suggested Adler, all people are driven
42. 30:58 by the need to be superior. But some people accomplish this superiority by improving themselves, by emphasizing their own talents and skills, by bettering themselves and educating themselves. and other people try to accomplish this superiority by diminishing and devaluing and controlling other people. These are the narcissists. Adler had horrendous debates with Freud in public and in private. And believe it or not, one of the main points of contention was penis envy. To remind you, what is penis envy? Penis by the need to be superior. But some people accomplish this superiority by improving themselves, by emphasizing their own talents and skills, by bettering themselves and educating themselves. and other people try to accomplish this superiority by diminishing and devaluing and controlling other people. These are the narcissists. Adler had horrendous debates with Freud in public and in private. And believe it or not, one of the main points of contention was penis envy. To remind you, what is penis envy? Penis
43. 31:41 envy is Freud’s interesting idea that girls, females are envious of boys because boys have a penis and the girl doesn’t have a penis. I’m kidding you not. This is penis envy. And that that created a huge uh tumult and tantrums between Freud and Adler. Adler said, “Yes, it’s true that girls are envious of boys and women are envious of men, but this has nothing to do with penises and testicles. This has to do with the fact that men have many more opportunities, that men are in envy is Freud’s interesting idea that girls, females are envious of boys because boys have a penis and the girl doesn’t have a penis. I’m kidding you not. This is penis envy. And that that created a huge uh tumult and tantrums between Freud and Adler. Adler said, “Yes, it’s true that girls are envious of boys and women are envious of men, but this has nothing to do with penises and testicles. This has to do with the fact that men have many more opportunities, that men are in
44. 32:21 control, that men subjugate women, that men abuse women. That’s why women are envious of men because they have this social societal power.” We can see that Adler was much more advanced in his thinking than Freud. We could even say that he was a proto proto feminist. He suggested that yes, we do have psychological reactions and we do have psychological we do create psychological constructs and there are psychological dynamics that are the outcomes of social problems. There are feelings of social control, that men subjugate women, that men abuse women. That’s why women are envious of men because they have this social societal power.” We can see that Adler was much more advanced in his thinking than Freud. We could even say that he was a proto proto feminist. He suggested that yes, we do have psychological reactions and we do have psychological we do create psychological constructs and there are psychological dynamics that are the outcomes of social problems. There are feelings of social
45. 33:00 inferiority. He said Freud is right. Girls envy boys, but that’s social inferiority, not biological one. In 1911, Freud announced that he is returning to chair the society in the wake of the resignation of its president Adler. It was like Donald Trump, you’re fired. On February 26, 1911, four days after Ad resigned the presidency of the Vienna Psychonalytical Society, Freud wrote to the priest Oscar Fista, and this is what he had to say. Adler’s theories, said Freud, were departing too far from the inferiority. He said Freud is right. Girls envy boys, but that’s social inferiority, not biological one. In 1911, Freud announced that he is returning to chair the society in the wake of the resignation of its president Adler. It was like Donald Trump, you’re fired. On February 26, 1911, four days after Ad resigned the presidency of the Vienna Psychonalytical Society, Freud wrote to the priest Oscar Fista, and this is what he had to say. Adler’s theories, said Freud, were departing too far from the
46. 33:43 right path, defined of course by Freud. Freud continued, it was time to make a stand against Adler’s theories. He forgets the saying of the Apostle Paul, the exact words of which you know better than I do. And I know that’s what Paul said. And I know that you have not love in you. Adler has created for himself, insisted Freud, a world system without love. And I am in the process of carrying out on him the revenge of the offended goddess Libido. I’ve always made it my principle to be tolerant and right path, defined of course by Freud. Freud continued, it was time to make a stand against Adler’s theories. He forgets the saying of the Apostle Paul, the exact words of which you know better than I do. And I know that’s what Paul said. And I know that you have not love in you. Adler has created for himself, insisted Freud, a world system without love. And I am in the process of carrying out on him the revenge of the offended goddess Libido. I’ve always made it my principle to be tolerant and
47. 34:20 not to exercise authority, but in practice it does not always work. At the same time, he wrote to Carl Abraham, one of his disciples, a few days earlier, Adler’s behavior, said Freud, or shall I say fulminated Freud. Adler’s behavior was no longer reconcilable with our psychoanalytical interests. He denies the importance of the libido. He traces everything back to aggression. The damaging effects of his publications will not take long to make themselves felt. In his correspondence with Jung, not to exercise authority, but in practice it does not always work. At the same time, he wrote to Carl Abraham, one of his disciples, a few days earlier, Adler’s behavior, said Freud, or shall I say fulminated Freud. Adler’s behavior was no longer reconcilable with our psychoanalytical interests. He denies the importance of the libido. He traces everything back to aggression. The damaging effects of his publications will not take long to make themselves felt. In his correspondence with Jung,
48. 35:02 Freud also had a lot to say about Adler. In 1914, Freud published the history of the psychoanalytic movement and he suggested in all these documents that Adler’s individual psychology is a psychology without love based purely on aggression and the drive for superiority. Freud said that Adler is paranoid. Adler is power hungry. And of course, Freud as a cult leader had many members in the cult who repeated these accusations against Adler, most notably Ernest Jones. It was a smear campaign as bad as they come because Adler Freud also had a lot to say about Adler. In 1914, Freud published the history of the psychoanalytic movement and he suggested in all these documents that Adler’s individual psychology is a psychology without love based purely on aggression and the drive for superiority. Freud said that Adler is paranoid. Adler is power hungry. And of course, Freud as a cult leader had many members in the cult who repeated these accusations against Adler, most notably Ernest Jones. It was a smear campaign as bad as they come because Adler
49. 35:53 actually emphasized the social interest, the community, the greater good, positive emotions as the main motivations in the development and functioning of healthy people. Freud didn’t get it right or was outright lying. Freud was troubled by Adlers and later later Jung’s stubborn insistence on continuing to use the term psychoanalysis. Adler called it called his work initially free psychoanalysis. He changed it a bit later and Jung insisted on analytic uh psychology. So in the history of the psychoanalytic actually emphasized the social interest, the community, the greater good, positive emotions as the main motivations in the development and functioning of healthy people. Freud didn’t get it right or was outright lying. Freud was troubled by Adlers and later later Jung’s stubborn insistence on continuing to use the term psychoanalysis. Adler called it called his work initially free psychoanalysis. He changed it a bit later and Jung insisted on analytic uh psychology. So in the history of the psychoanalytic
50. 36:41 movement, Freud writes the following regarding both both traitors to the cause, Jung and Adler. I am not concerned, said Freud, with a truth that may be contained in the theories which I’m rejecting, nor shall I attempt to refute them. I wish me to show that these theories controvert contradict the fundamental principles of analysis that for this reason they should not be known by the name of analysis. In other words, Freud was protecting a brand and he admit he admitted freely that he was not concerned with the truth movement, Freud writes the following regarding both both traitors to the cause, Jung and Adler. I am not concerned, said Freud, with a truth that may be contained in the theories which I’m rejecting, nor shall I attempt to refute them. I wish me to show that these theories controvert contradict the fundamental principles of analysis that for this reason they should not be known by the name of analysis. In other words, Freud was protecting a brand and he admit he admitted freely that he was not concerned with the truth
51. 37:21 or with finding new relevant insights. It’s the brand that bothered him because by that time there was a lot of money slloshing around. Adler began to refer to his work as a completely new movement. He called it now individual psychology. Jung persisted because he regarded himself as a co-founder of psychoanalysis and he persisted with analytic psychology. The truth is that the real father of experimental psychology, Wilhelm Vunt, came up with something very similar long before Adler or Yung Offroy and he or with finding new relevant insights. It’s the brand that bothered him because by that time there was a lot of money slloshing around. Adler began to refer to his work as a completely new movement. He called it now individual psychology. Jung persisted because he regarded himself as a co-founder of psychoanalysis and he persisted with analytic psychology. The truth is that the real father of experimental psychology, Wilhelm Vunt, came up with something very similar long before Adler or Yung Offroy and he
52. 38:02 called it folk psychology psychology folk psychology the term in German means people’s psychology and refers to looking at the behavior of people not individually not isolated. but in groups. Eventually, this became much later social psychology and informs today’s uh thinking in psychology because a lot of psychology nowadays is relational and of course it had a major influence in the 1960s on the object relations schools in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Adler regarded his own psychology as called it folk psychology psychology folk psychology the term in German means people’s psychology and refers to looking at the behavior of people not individually not isolated. but in groups. Eventually, this became much later social psychology and informs today’s uh thinking in psychology because a lot of psychology nowadays is relational and of course it had a major influence in the 1960s on the object relations schools in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Adler regarded his own psychology as
53. 38:44 focused on individuals not on groups. While Adler did introduce what he called the social interest, the influence of society on the individual and so on, the focus was still highly Freudian in the sense that he remained his psychology remained embedded in the individual, hence the name individual psychology. So whereas it was Vont that was the true father of relational psychology and social psychology, Adler is a bridge between Vunt and Freud. He’s a bridge. He borrows from W the social aspect and he borrowed from focused on individuals not on groups. While Adler did introduce what he called the social interest, the influence of society on the individual and so on, the focus was still highly Freudian in the sense that he remained his psychology remained embedded in the individual, hence the name individual psychology. So whereas it was Vont that was the true father of relational psychology and social psychology, Adler is a bridge between Vunt and Freud. He’s a bridge. He borrows from W the social aspect and he borrowed from
54. 39:29 Freud the individual aspect and he melded them together seamlessly. Um, Adler’s approach was distinct from psychoanalysis um because it was a lot more holistic. In psychoanalysis, the individual is automized. The individual is like a unit that is separate from everything. And you study the individual. In psychoanalysis, you go deeper and deeper. early childhood experiences, dynamics, subreactions, uh drives, urges, repressions, the unconscious, everything is the individual as if the individual is Freud the individual aspect and he melded them together seamlessly. Um, Adler’s approach was distinct from psychoanalysis um because it was a lot more holistic. In psychoanalysis, the individual is automized. The individual is like a unit that is separate from everything. And you study the individual. In psychoanalysis, you go deeper and deeper. early childhood experiences, dynamics, subreactions, uh drives, urges, repressions, the unconscious, everything is the individual as if the individual is
55. 40:07 totally isolated from other people and they have no influence on the individual which is completely erroneous. Adler corrected this mistake by introducing a holistic approach to the individual. Rather than focus on the role of underlying drives and instincts, rather than viewing the personality in terms of individual parts such as id, ego, super ego, you name it, Adler preferred to consider the individual as a unitary whole together with the individual’s environment and social media. Freud viewed internal forces of totally isolated from other people and they have no influence on the individual which is completely erroneous. Adler corrected this mistake by introducing a holistic approach to the individual. Rather than focus on the role of underlying drives and instincts, rather than viewing the personality in terms of individual parts such as id, ego, super ego, you name it, Adler preferred to consider the individual as a unitary whole together with the individual’s environment and social media. Freud viewed internal forces of
56. 40:44 sexuality in libido as central to human motivation. Adler shifted the focus. Adler suggested that environmental factors and the individual individual’s response or reaction to environmental factors. They are the determinants and this is mediated via aggression and the need to become superior via self-improvement or path psychopathologically via narcissism. Adler gave special prominence to social factors arguing that developmental tasks involve either conflict with social factors or um assimilation of social factors. And sexuality in libido as central to human motivation. Adler shifted the focus. Adler suggested that environmental factors and the individual individual’s response or reaction to environmental factors. They are the determinants and this is mediated via aggression and the need to become superior via self-improvement or path psychopathologically via narcissism. Adler gave special prominence to social factors arguing that developmental tasks involve either conflict with social factors or um assimilation of social factors. And
57. 41:27 he he he identified three kinds of forces. Love, yes, there is love in Adler’s work. Freud was lying in his correspondence. Love is a major force in the work of Adler. He mentions filial love, friendship and love, love of humanity in general. So this is this is one of the three motivating forces, dominant forces. The second one is work and the third one is sexual love. And this is of course a great introduction, a great precursor and precedent of object relation schools. Adler wrote in 1937, he he he identified three kinds of forces. Love, yes, there is love in Adler’s work. Freud was lying in his correspondence. Love is a major force in the work of Adler. He mentions filial love, friendship and love, love of humanity in general. So this is this is one of the three motivating forces, dominant forces. The second one is work and the third one is sexual love. And this is of course a great introduction, a great precursor and precedent of object relation schools. Adler wrote in 1937,
58. 42:07 “Individual psychology was the first school of psychology to break with the assumption of inner forces such as instincts, drives, unconscious, etc. This is all irrational material and individual psychology broke with it. When it comes to the understanding of an appraisal of an individual or a group, said Adler, this break has proved most helpful. It’s a bit inaccurate because behaviorism also rejected the unconscious, also rejected the internal. Behaviorism came with the idea of the black box. We can only observe the “Individual psychology was the first school of psychology to break with the assumption of inner forces such as instincts, drives, unconscious, etc. This is all irrational material and individual psychology broke with it. When it comes to the understanding of an appraisal of an individual or a group, said Adler, this break has proved most helpful. It’s a bit inaccurate because behaviorism also rejected the unconscious, also rejected the internal. Behaviorism came with the idea of the black box. We can only observe the
59. 42:48 behaviors, choices, decisions, and actions of people and learn from them about the motivations. But we cannot break into the human psyche, decode it, decipher it and deconstruct it. So Adler was not was not the only one to suggest this. Individual psych in individual psychology there is a fascinating concept of networking and confluence. There are primary determinants of behavior and this is the individual’s opinion of himself or herself and the individual’s interpretation of the environment as the individual copes with behaviors, choices, decisions, and actions of people and learn from them about the motivations. But we cannot break into the human psyche, decode it, decipher it and deconstruct it. So Adler was not was not the only one to suggest this. Individual psych in individual psychology there is a fascinating concept of networking and confluence. There are primary determinants of behavior and this is the individual’s opinion of himself or herself and the individual’s interpretation of the environment as the individual copes with
60. 43:24 any given ever shape ever transforming shape-shifting situation. Every individual is unique in Adler’s work and the proper subject matter matter of psychology according to him is to is to find out the manner the way in which individuals behave in response to changes. He adceived the individual as a kind of machinery that is reactive to change. Life reality challenges the individual all the time and the individual metamorphosis, shapeshifts, transforms itself, improves, grows, develops in the healthy track or any given ever shape ever transforming shape-shifting situation. Every individual is unique in Adler’s work and the proper subject matter matter of psychology according to him is to is to find out the manner the way in which individuals behave in response to changes. He adceived the individual as a kind of machinery that is reactive to change. Life reality challenges the individual all the time and the individual metamorphosis, shapeshifts, transforms itself, improves, grows, develops in the healthy track or
61. 44:11 becomes narcissistic in the unhealthy track but always reactive to the environment. It is therefore environmental psychology which is a bit different to behaviorism. I borrowed heavily from Adler’s work when I constructed my own intracychic activation model. The individual’s behavior in Adler’s uh work is determined or influenced by the environment. But in behaviorism, the individual’s behavior is entirely determined by the environmental consequences of actions. That’s not what becomes narcissistic in the unhealthy track but always reactive to the environment. It is therefore environmental psychology which is a bit different to behaviorism. I borrowed heavily from Adler’s work when I constructed my own intracychic activation model. The individual’s behavior in Adler’s uh work is determined or influenced by the environment. But in behaviorism, the individual’s behavior is entirely determined by the environmental consequences of actions. That’s not what
62. 44:49 Adler is saying. Adler is suggesting a model of interaction between inner world and external world. Internal world and external world similar to my work in IPAM. In adless psychology, the focus is firmly on the individual and the individual’s cognitive interpretation of the environment. I mentioned the concept of striving for success. It is the individual that defines what is success. The striving the the the drive to change, the drive to improve, the drive to grow and to develop, the drive to Adler is saying. Adler is suggesting a model of interaction between inner world and external world. Internal world and external world similar to my work in IPAM. In adless psychology, the focus is firmly on the individual and the individual’s cognitive interpretation of the environment. I mentioned the concept of striving for success. It is the individual that defines what is success. The striving the the the drive to change, the drive to improve, the drive to grow and to develop, the drive to
63. 45:28 react and to adapt. This drive is is there in every single human being. But it is the individual who defines whether the drive the striving is successful or whether the striving has failed. Whereas the core of every structure of life includes this energy influences the choices that the individual makes. The outcomes of this energy, the outcomes of directing this energy, the outcome of leveraging and using this energy, they are judged by the individual. The individual is the one who says I have failed or I have react and to adapt. This drive is is there in every single human being. But it is the individual who defines whether the drive the striving is successful or whether the striving has failed. Whereas the core of every structure of life includes this energy influences the choices that the individual makes. The outcomes of this energy, the outcomes of directing this energy, the outcome of leveraging and using this energy, they are judged by the individual. The individual is the one who says I have failed or I have
64. 46:10 succeeded. Social interest is a natural drive in all of humanity. um he called it is like the feeling for society. There’s a goal of contributing to the general welfare of the community of placing your needs u the needs of the community ahead of yours. He He Adler regarded charity and altruism, pro-social instincts and communal drives as totally normal, not as aberrations. In this sense, Adler deviated from evolutionary theory. The individual is faced exclusively with problems that can be solved only with succeeded. Social interest is a natural drive in all of humanity. um he called it is like the feeling for society. There’s a goal of contributing to the general welfare of the community of placing your needs u the needs of the community ahead of yours. He He Adler regarded charity and altruism, pro-social instincts and communal drives as totally normal, not as aberrations. In this sense, Adler deviated from evolutionary theory. The individual is faced exclusively with problems that can be solved only with
65. 46:58 sufficient social interests. Society therefore is crucial to the resolution of internal conflicts to the attainment of balance and stability internal balance and stability and to regulation. There is a biological genetic potentiality that somehow translates into an actual ability and then into action. Everything is interconnected in Adler’s work. Social interest is for example in Adler’s work an instinctive drive but at the same time it’s also an acquired skill that must be developed throughout sufficient social interests. Society therefore is crucial to the resolution of internal conflicts to the attainment of balance and stability internal balance and stability and to regulation. There is a biological genetic potentiality that somehow translates into an actual ability and then into action. Everything is interconnected in Adler’s work. Social interest is for example in Adler’s work an instinctive drive but at the same time it’s also an acquired skill that must be developed throughout
66. 47:41 the lifespan by every individual. If you fail to adequ ad adequately develop a sense of self-efficacy, for example, if your inferiority, sense of inferiority overwhelms you, this will interfere with the development of social interest. Because if you don’t trust yourself, if you don’t believe in yourself, you will try to avoid social interactions. You will try to shun the presence and company of other people because it will be a kind of test that you know you’re going to fail. Society is a test in a way. It tests you the lifespan by every individual. If you fail to adequ ad adequately develop a sense of self-efficacy, for example, if your inferiority, sense of inferiority overwhelms you, this will interfere with the development of social interest. Because if you don’t trust yourself, if you don’t believe in yourself, you will try to avoid social interactions. You will try to shun the presence and company of other people because it will be a kind of test that you know you’re going to fail. Society is a test in a way. It tests you
67. 48:19 all the time and if you feel inferior you would tend to avoid the test. Similarly, if you have a superiority complex, you would focus on self-interest to the exclusion of other people. You would regard other people in the best case as instruments and in the worst case as abstractions, as internal objects. Again, Adler never used the term narcissism, but he described it well. There is a focus, said Adler, in the pursuit of the general welfare over selfish goals. And this develops and creates the social interest that is all the time and if you feel inferior you would tend to avoid the test. Similarly, if you have a superiority complex, you would focus on self-interest to the exclusion of other people. You would regard other people in the best case as instruments and in the worst case as abstractions, as internal objects. Again, Adler never used the term narcissism, but he described it well. There is a focus, said Adler, in the pursuit of the general welfare over selfish goals. And this develops and creates the social interest that is
68. 49:00 dependent on the individual’s lifestyle uh choices striving towards significance and belonging. We see here the first time that meaning is mentioned as a very critical determinant of mental health long before Victor Frankle and logootherapy. Adlas said your life has to have a meaning. You have to feel that your life is significant. Recent studies, very recent studies in in psychology and in neuroscience have demonstrate how right Adler was. Today we know that one of the main components of happiness and longevity, dependent on the individual’s lifestyle uh choices striving towards significance and belonging. We see here the first time that meaning is mentioned as a very critical determinant of mental health long before Victor Frankle and logootherapy. Adlas said your life has to have a meaning. You have to feel that your life is significant. Recent studies, very recent studies in in psychology and in neuroscience have demonstrate how right Adler was. Today we know that one of the main components of happiness and longevity,
69. 49:48 biological longevity, is when you believe that your life has meaning and significance. Or another determinant is when you help other people. Altruism. People who help other people, people who feel that their lives are significant and meaningful, they live longer and they are much more content and stable and regulated. It was also Adler who introduced into the discourse the word lifestyle. Yes, lifestyle is Adler. He said that lifestyle can be observed as a clear pattern that manifests itself early in biological longevity, is when you believe that your life has meaning and significance. Or another determinant is when you help other people. Altruism. People who help other people, people who feel that their lives are significant and meaningful, they live longer and they are much more content and stable and regulated. It was also Adler who introduced into the discourse the word lifestyle. Yes, lifestyle is Adler. He said that lifestyle can be observed as a clear pattern that manifests itself early in
70. 50:28 life and is consistent over time. He says a kind of theme, it’s thematic. It permeates all aspects of the individual life. He says the lifestyle includes passions and drives and desires and values and knowledge and actions, deeds and eccentricities and dreams and fantasies and all these when you put all these together this big milange this big soup what you get is individual individual’s lifestyle. Today we distinguish between lifestyle which is about choices choices of food choices of social activities and so on. We life and is consistent over time. He says a kind of theme, it’s thematic. It permeates all aspects of the individual life. He says the lifestyle includes passions and drives and desires and values and knowledge and actions, deeds and eccentricities and dreams and fantasies and all these when you put all these together this big milange this big soup what you get is individual individual’s lifestyle. Today we distinguish between lifestyle which is about choices choices of food choices of social activities and so on. We
71. 51:04 distinguish this from personality style. In Adler’s work, they’re mixed. Adler actually implied that it is the lifestyle that makes sense of and determines behavior, not the personality. Actually, in his work, there’s no distinction. The lifestyle is the personality. Ada suggested that there are four um distinct lifestyles. The healthy lifestyle. The healthy lifestyle is well adjusted. The healthy healthy people seek to solve problems in ways that are useful to them and useful to others as well. The healthy person do distinguish this from personality style. In Adler’s work, they’re mixed. Adler actually implied that it is the lifestyle that makes sense of and determines behavior, not the personality. Actually, in his work, there’s no distinction. The lifestyle is the personality. Ada suggested that there are four um distinct lifestyles. The healthy lifestyle. The healthy lifestyle is well adjusted. The healthy healthy people seek to solve problems in ways that are useful to them and useful to others as well. The healthy person do
72. 51:44 does not strive for personal superiority, power or dominance over others. And the healthy person is motivated primarily by social interest. The second type of lifestyle is pathological. These are people who wish to prove that they are personally superior by dominating, controlling, ruling over others or hurting others. For example, in sadism. The third type is also pathological. We’re talking about lifestyle. You see the third type is pathological. These are people who try to meet their needs through other does not strive for personal superiority, power or dominance over others. And the healthy person is motivated primarily by social interest. The second type of lifestyle is pathological. These are people who wish to prove that they are personally superior by dominating, controlling, ruling over others or hurting others. For example, in sadism. The third type is also pathological. We’re talking about lifestyle. You see the third type is pathological. These are people who try to meet their needs through other
73. 52:21 people without expending any personal effort, investment, commitment or struggle. These are parasites basically and but they don’t need to be parasites only in the economic or financial sense. If you’re a people pleaser, you belong to this third type. If you’re codependent, you belong to this third type because you derive your internal regulation. You derive your happiness and contentment from other people. Other people have the power and the capacity to change your moods, to change your people without expending any personal effort, investment, commitment or struggle. These are parasites basically and but they don’t need to be parasites only in the economic or financial sense. If you’re a people pleaser, you belong to this third type. If you’re codependent, you belong to this third type because you derive your internal regulation. You derive your happiness and contentment from other people. Other people have the power and the capacity to change your moods, to change your
74. 52:54 emotions, to dictate your cognitions and to regulate. The fourth type of lifestyle, these are people who cope simply by avoiding. They avoid. They withdraw. Their lives are constricted. They reject any interaction and challenge. They make no decisions ever. Adler implied in all this two very critical crucial philosophical insights. Number one, the healthy lifestyle is the integrated lifestyle. The healthy lifestyle is when you function well in society. And this is very reminiscent of Aristotle’s definition of the good life. emotions, to dictate your cognitions and to regulate. The fourth type of lifestyle, these are people who cope simply by avoiding. They avoid. They withdraw. Their lives are constricted. They reject any interaction and challenge. They make no decisions ever. Adler implied in all this two very critical crucial philosophical insights. Number one, the healthy lifestyle is the integrated lifestyle. The healthy lifestyle is when you function well in society. And this is very reminiscent of Aristotle’s definition of the good life.
75. 53:40 Then the second insight is that free will is very important because all three pathological lifestyles are actually determined from the they are deterministic. They they are fatalistic. They there’s no free will in the three pathological lifestyles. They there are internal dynamics which overpower and overwhelm the individual. The individual become the individual becomes robotic. Lifestyle emerges as a result of the individual’s creative self. The individual defines success. The individual chooses Then the second insight is that free will is very important because all three pathological lifestyles are actually determined from the they are deterministic. They they are fatalistic. They there’s no free will in the three pathological lifestyles. They there are internal dynamics which overpower and overwhelm the individual. The individual become the individual becomes robotic. Lifestyle emerges as a result of the individual’s creative self. The individual defines success. The individual chooses
76. 54:20 to perceive and interpret the world in certain ways. The individual is responsible for for decisions and choices and actions. There’s a lot of free will involved, a lot of what late we came later to call agency. And Adler suggested that there is something called private intelligence. We justify our actions logically in ways that make sense to us. When you act in a certain way that is morally wrong or self-destructive, um it happens. And what you should do is you should examine the reasoning behind your to perceive and interpret the world in certain ways. The individual is responsible for for decisions and choices and actions. There’s a lot of free will involved, a lot of what late we came later to call agency. And Adler suggested that there is something called private intelligence. We justify our actions logically in ways that make sense to us. When you act in a certain way that is morally wrong or self-destructive, um it happens. And what you should do is you should examine the reasoning behind your
77. 54:56 actions. the self-examining person as the kind of private intelligence that yields insights, change, and protects the individual because you’re unlikely to misbehave and therefore you’re unlikely to be punished. It limits the adverse consequences of your actions. In the absence of sufficient social interest, an individual may be able to justify antisocial or criminal acts via reasoning that makes sense to her, to himself or to herself even though it is based on faulty premises. So the pathological lifestyles distort your actions. the self-examining person as the kind of private intelligence that yields insights, change, and protects the individual because you’re unlikely to misbehave and therefore you’re unlikely to be punished. It limits the adverse consequences of your actions. In the absence of sufficient social interest, an individual may be able to justify antisocial or criminal acts via reasoning that makes sense to her, to himself or to herself even though it is based on faulty premises. So the pathological lifestyles distort your
78. 55:37 capacity for introspection, self-awareness, self-consciousness. Understanding private intelligence in Adler’s work is crucial because it allows the therapist for example to make efforts to change the reasoning or to change the self-justification. The goal of Adleran therapy is to help the individual to uncover values and assumptions that underlly behavior. And in this sense, it is very very reminiscent of the much later cognitive behavioral therapies. The therapist job is to correct assumptions capacity for introspection, self-awareness, self-consciousness. Understanding private intelligence in Adler’s work is crucial because it allows the therapist for example to make efforts to change the reasoning or to change the self-justification. The goal of Adleran therapy is to help the individual to uncover values and assumptions that underlly behavior. And in this sense, it is very very reminiscent of the much later cognitive behavioral therapies. The therapist job is to correct assumptions
79. 56:19 which later came to be known in CBT as ants, automatic negative thoughts. And the therapist in adarium therapy points out mistakes and helps the the patient or the client uh develop a more positive and even useful way of living. The Adleran construct of lifestyle is reminiscent of what other theorists call personality. It’s essentially a combination or constellation, a cluster of of traits that characterize an individual consistently across situations, across the lifespan, across time. Adler argues that actual permanent which later came to be known in CBT as ants, automatic negative thoughts. And the therapist in adarium therapy points out mistakes and helps the the patient or the client uh develop a more positive and even useful way of living. The Adleran construct of lifestyle is reminiscent of what other theorists call personality. It’s essentially a combination or constellation, a cluster of of traits that characterize an individual consistently across situations, across the lifespan, across time. Adler argues that actual permanent
80. 57:01 change of personality is a realistic goal. I beg to differ. That’s where I diverge from Adler. But he says that it is possible. He said in therapy there is so much potential in human beings that you can activate this potential and this potential would would yield change and the change will help the individual to develop social interest to integrate and to become more selfifications. Of course um people like Freud and the other Jew Vaknin they disagree with Adler on on this. Adler declared individual psychology as a gay change of personality is a realistic goal. I beg to differ. That’s where I diverge from Adler. But he says that it is possible. He said in therapy there is so much potential in human beings that you can activate this potential and this potential would would yield change and the change will help the individual to develop social interest to integrate and to become more selfifications. Of course um people like Freud and the other Jew Vaknin they disagree with Adler on on this. Adler declared individual psychology as a gay
81. 57:42 and optimistic science when the word gay meant joyful, cheerful and not what you are thinking. Get your minds out of the gutter. In later years, Adler has changed a bit. He defined permanent positive um transformation as a goal for individual therapy, individual psychology. He said in in Adleran therapy we should strive to change in a good way. But he said we should apply it not only to individuals, we should apply to the human condition, should apply to societies, we should apply to cultures, we should apply to and optimistic science when the word gay meant joyful, cheerful and not what you are thinking. Get your minds out of the gutter. In later years, Adler has changed a bit. He defined permanent positive um transformation as a goal for individual therapy, individual psychology. He said in in Adleran therapy we should strive to change in a good way. But he said we should apply it not only to individuals, we should apply to the human condition, should apply to societies, we should apply to cultures, we should apply to
82. 58:23 politics. And he wrote a very influential essay, the progress of mankind. And he adopted what later came to be called an existentialist point of view, very similar to Frankle, as I mentioned. He adopted or anticipated Jean Paul Satra notion that when an individual makes a choice about how to live life, the individual is making that choice not only for himself or herself but for all of humanity because there is a ripple ripple effect to who you are. Every action you you you make, every decision you take, every choice politics. And he wrote a very influential essay, the progress of mankind. And he adopted what later came to be called an existentialist point of view, very similar to Frankle, as I mentioned. He adopted or anticipated Jean Paul Satra notion that when an individual makes a choice about how to live life, the individual is making that choice not only for himself or herself but for all of humanity because there is a ripple ripple effect to who you are. Every action you you you make, every decision you take, every choice
83. 59:04 has an impact on other people. And these people have an impact on other people. And these people have an impact on other people. It’s a butterfly effect. We’re all interconnected. Something I’m doing now is influencing people in India and Nepal and Tibet and Africa and you name it. and not merely because I’m making a video which is accessible to them via YouTube. Adler argues that each one of us is born into a world which uh we find u readymade like people who preceded us. The previous generations they created this has an impact on other people. And these people have an impact on other people. And these people have an impact on other people. It’s a butterfly effect. We’re all interconnected. Something I’m doing now is influencing people in India and Nepal and Tibet and Africa and you name it. and not merely because I’m making a video which is accessible to them via YouTube. Adler argues that each one of us is born into a world which uh we find u readymade like people who preceded us. The previous generations they created this
84. 59:44 world for us. They made contributions to this world. Our ancestors created the environment into which we are born. And it is our compensatory striving for success that drives us to continue to contribute to the world to build upon these earlier contributions. Human progress is just another phrase for social interest and for the striving to be superior. Freud proposed an innate drive for destruction that was as strong as the force of the libido, the instinctive life force. Adler instead regarded our fundamental world for us. They made contributions to this world. Our ancestors created the environment into which we are born. And it is our compensatory striving for success that drives us to continue to contribute to the world to build upon these earlier contributions. Human progress is just another phrase for social interest and for the striving to be superior. Freud proposed an innate drive for destruction that was as strong as the force of the libido, the instinctive life force. Adler instead regarded our fundamental
85. 60:32 drives as forces that continue to improve the human condition steadily. Ironically, Freud blamed Adler for having developed an aggressive hateful theory. Whereas it is Freud’s work that is hopeless and pessimistic. It is Adler who is proposing hope and espouses a deep belief abiding belief in humanity and its capacity for change. drives as forces that continue to improve the human condition steadily. Ironically, Freud blamed Adler for having developed an aggressive hateful theory. Whereas it is Freud’s work that is hopeless and pessimistic. It is Adler who is proposing hope and espouses a deep belief abiding belief in humanity and its capacity for change.