Essay Example on Alfred Adler: Advancing Equality, Mutual Respect & Community Health

Introduction

The Adlerian theory was founded by Alfred Adler. Adler was a physician who dedicated most of his life to addressing the need and ability for humanity to initiate social change and impact that is positive and beneficial to all. His core values revolve around the growth of democracy, equality to and for all persons, and the need for mutuality of respect. He took his time to give counseling to families and groups. Besides, he put his education to practice in trying to improve community health. He held a firm belief that human beings only have the desire to feel a sense of significance and belonging. Adler University was established and named in his honor. His works drive the university's vision and goals.

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Adler believed that when humans are encouraged continuously, it brings forth a whole chain of connections. First, they get the sense that they are capable and that they are indeed appreciated. Eventually, rather than rebel, they shall respond in a way that is connected and cooperated as well. However, when human beings are discouraged, the reverse occurs. First, they adopt approaches that are not healthy while seeking to cope with the discouragement. They could give up and become withdrawn, or they could begin competing fiercely. As such, the sense of fulfilment and optimism only arises from being encouraged by others, the feeling of being respected, and when society expresses interest in you.

The Adlerian theory has significantly been associated with the upbringing of children. It avers that children who generally misbehave or exhibit rebellious behaviors are not getting any encouragement from their parents or guardians. That misbehavior becomes the coping mechanism. The only way that the child would get to act differently is by showing them that they are valued. Further, continually encouraging them and appreciating them is a form of therapy that has been proved to work.

Other than just children, the theory also bases its foundation on individuals who generally perceive themselves as being inferior to others. It alludes that such perceptions often arise from humiliating childhood experiences they may have had, an existing defection, or detached feelings of social acceptance.

Those that believe in this theory focus on what one develops uniquely as their belief during their childhood. This is because, from this belief, everything else in life after that, has its foundation on it, from their attitudes to how they behave, to how they perceive themselves and others, etc.

Therapeutic process and techniques used within the therapy

One of the critical techniques used is getting an individual into a place where they feel that they are comfortable or that they fit in withing the community and society as well. It could be used concurrently with other approaches in therapy. These include counseling that is sensitive to culture, therapy involving art, and therapy of play. The three are all centered on the specific client's needs. The technique places human beings into four different categories;

Those that rule are the greatest procreators of inferiority on people. They do this in order to give themselves a sense of superiority. Those that learn to rely on other people in order to get through the difficulties they encounter in life. This category of people is associated with being quite sensitive, having anxiety, and being obsessed with things in life. Those that avoid are those who try to get by in life by avoiding what the real life is actually about. Finally, those that are useful in society are the healthy type, have a genuine interest and desire to help others.

The therapeutic process involves a genuine attempt by the therapist to develop a sense of calm and connection with the client and to proceed to understand what it is that may be causing the patient to feel or think in a particular way.

It consists of four different stages:

Engagement

Here, the therapist attempts to create a therapeutic connection with the client by providing encouragement and showing support.

Assessment

An attempt is made by the therapist to try and understand the background from which the client was brought up. This includes what memories he or she has of his childhood and family. As explained earlier, the purpose of this would be to try and establish how specific patterns of thinking were adopted by the client.

Insight

Here, based on the assessment made, the therapist provides his interpretation. Further, he offers various theories that would explain how those early experiences could probably be playing a role in what he or she was currently going through. Most crucially, the therapist does not impose these theories on the client. Instead, he leaves it to them to determine whether they consider those theories to bear accuracy, and, thus, useful.

Reorientation

Finally, the therapist offers assistance by suggesting some useful strategies that could be of help to the client as they go about their lives.

Interesting aspects of the theory

It lays reference to the fact that human beings ought to be valued, feel the connection, and regarded as significant. It is applied during therapeutic sessions. Rather than just focus on the flaws that need correction in an individual, it focuses on him as a whole. In order to provide assistance to ailing clients, this theory insists that there has to be an understanding of their childhood and upbringing.

It revolves around communism. Human beings who have a sense of belonging generally corporate and exist healthily with others. However, those that think of themselves as unwanted or outcasts would come out as rebellious and probably harm themselves or others.

Further, it was founded by an individual whose life is a representation of this particular theory in its entirety.

What disorders is this theory most successful with?

The Adlerian therapy, which utilizes the Adlerian theory, is conclusive in the sense that it can be used for every scenario or patient requiring treatment. More specifically, it best suits persons suffering from anxiety or those experiencing disorders in their conduct. Some of the diseases it has been most successful in treating include;

Feelings of inferiority

Many people often have trouble while trying to detach from the consuming feelings of being inferior to others. This often results in them being discouraged. In order to cope, they could adopt selfishness and other unhealthy ways.

Supporting and offering encouragement to the client is what the therapist applies in Adlerian therapy. This provides a healthier means of trying to overcome this feeling.

Social interest

Those with such problems may adopt antisocial behaviors in an attempt to cope. For instance, one may decide to begin bullying his colleagues at school. The theory lays emphasis on the fact that human beings are their best when they behave or exhibit behaviors that are beneficial to the society. Through this, a therapist often attempts to help the client develop more interest in their social aspects.

What draws you to this type of theory?

The foundation of this theory is aimed at creating an environment that fosters the healthy and holistic growth of children. The founder was against the use of corporal punishment when offering discipline to children. Instead, he advocated for better ways, that were positive, to correcting children.

This theory posits that the influence society had on a child was extremely useful to a child's upbringing. Further, ensuring a child was in an environment where they always felt secure and appreciated was key to their childhood. Such conditions, when guaranteed to a child, would automatically be beneficial to society at large. This is because they will adopt behaviors that seek to benefit the community as well.

Further, this theory plays a role in how we go about setting out our goals and dreams in life. It advises against being over-ambitious and encourages an inclination towards goals that are attainable and realistic as well. Further, it insists that people often feel good when they achieve the goals they set out, and feel even much better when they proceed to others. To attain this level of fulfilment, it is crucial to have attainable goals.

The above-mentioned offer insight over why exactly I feel inclined to this theory.

How does this theory align with your own beliefs about human nature?

I believe that it is in our nature as human beings to do things that foster our existence in harmony with others. The well-being of another ought to be celebrated and encouraged, as this would contribute directly to the benefit of society at large.

The Adlerian theory synchronizes with my beliefs in the sense that it affirms that human beings are endowed with the ability to learn on how to exist harmoniously with others in the society. That everyone has an untapped capability to connect socially and to develop their conscience.

Further, human beings often incline onto a lifestyle that advances towards their desired goals. Allowing ourselves to be shaped by the experiences we had during our childhood would probably not aid this cause. Instead, opting to recreate ourselves helps us achieve those goals.

We, as human beings, draw motivation from how we relate socially. Precisely why the choices we make, the responsibility we bear, the success we strive for, the perfection we seek, and the sense of completion we look forward to are all down to how we relate with others in society.

Conclusion

Rather than consider inferiority feelings as a drawback to us, they could be instead used as a catapult to achieving success. It could be used as a motivation to help strive for completion. Just like Adler, I, too, believe that we have the ability to influence and create our own fates. That as much as our upbringing and environments play a role in how we turn out to be, they are not the only determinants. That which we were born with, or born into, does not compare with what we decide to do with the strength and capabilities that lay in us. We can be who we want.

References

"About Alfred Adler." Adler University. https://www.adler.edu/page/about/history/about-alfred-adler

Ackerman, C. (2019, July 04). How Does Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (ACT) Work? Retrieved from https://positivepsychology.com/act-acceptance-and-commitment-therapy/

"Adlerian Principles." Adler University. https://www.adler.edu/page/community-engagement/center-for-adlerian-practice-and-scholarship/history/adlerian-principles

"Alfred Adler." North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. https://www.alfredadler.org/alfred-adler

"Alfred Adler." North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. https://www.alfredadler.org/alfred-adler

Cyron, D. (2016, April 20). Mental Side Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Movement Disorders: The Futility of Denial. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4837159/ https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies.shtml

Watts, Richard E. "Adlerian Counseling." The Handbook of Educational Theories (2013): 459-472. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard_Watts8/publication/265161122_Adlerian_counseling"What Is an Adlerian?" North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. https://www.alfredadler.org/what-is-an-adlerian