Adlerian psychology

n. The psychological system developed by Alfred Adler (1870-1937), in which it is assumed that humans have two basic motivations: to have a sense of connectedness with others (social interest) and to use one’s creative abilities to overcome obstacles and achieve a respected place in society (striving for superiority). Goals are chosen consciously at an early age to achieve the two main motivations, and a person creates a lifestyle around the chosen goals, the methods he/she uses to attain them, and the various ideals, thoughts, memories, and emotions which arise as a result of trying to reach those goals. Pathology arises only when a person chooses a style of life that prevents her/him from having a sense of closeness with others or becomes discouraged and fails to keep trying to solve her/ his problems (inferiority complex). Adlerian psychology is often called individual psychology, as Adler emphasized that each person becomes the individual he or she is through a creative interaction with the environment and can only be understood in relationship to the environment as experienced by the individual.