![\"An](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/902\/2015\/02\/23225013\/CNX_Psych_11_03_Adler.jpg\")
Figure 1<\/strong>. Alfred Adler proposed the concept of the inferiority complex.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAlfred Adler<\/h3>\r\n
Alfred Adler, a colleague of Freud\u2019s and the first president of the Vienna Psychoanalytical Society (Freud\u2019s inner circle of colleagues), was the first major theorist to break away from Freud. He subsequently founded a school of psychology called individual psychology<\/strong>, which focuses on our drive to compensate for feelings of inferiority. Adler (1937, 1956) proposed the concept of the inferiority complex<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n An inferiority complex<\/strong> refers to a person\u2019s feelings that they lack worth and don\u2019t measure up to the standards of others or of society.<\/p>\r\n Adler\u2019s ideas about inferiority represent a major difference between his thinking and Freud\u2019s. Freud believed that we are motivated by sexual and aggressive urges, but Adler (1930, 1961) believed that feelings of inferiority in childhood are what drive people to attempt to gain superiority and that this striving is the force behind all of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n Adler also believed in the importance of social connections, seeing childhood development emerging through social development rather than the sexual stages Freud outlined. Adler noted the interrelatedness of humanity and the need to work together for the betterment of all. He said, \u201cThe happiness of mankind lies in working together, in living as if each individual had set himself the task of contributing to the common welfare\u201d (Adler, 1964, p. 255) with the main goal of psychology being \u201cto recognize the equal rights and equality of others\u201d (Adler, 1961, p. 691).<\/p>\r\n With these ideas, Adler identified three fundamental social tasks that all of us must experience:<\/p>\r\n Rather than focus on sexual or aggressive motives for behavior as Freud did, Adler focused on social motives. He also emphasized conscious rather than unconscious motivation, since he believed that the three fundamental social tasks are explicitly known and pursued. That is not to say that Adler did not also believe in unconscious processes\u2014he did\u2014but he felt that conscious processes were more important.<\/p>\r\n One of Adler\u2019s major contributions to personality psychology was the idea that our birth order shapes our personality. He proposed that older siblings, who start out as the focus of their parents\u2019 attention but must share that attention once a new child joins the family, compensate by becoming overachievers. The youngest children, according to Adler, may be spoiled, leaving the middle child with the opportunity to minimize the negative dynamics of the youngest and oldest children.<\/p>\r\n Despite popular attention, research has not conclusively confirmed Adler\u2019s hypotheses about birth order. Large-sample studies have found no associations between birth order and personality traits such as life satisfaction, trust, risk taking, patience, or political orientation.[footnote]Rohrer, J. M., Egloff, B., & Schmukle, S. C. (2017). Probing birth-order effects on narrow traits using specification-curve analysis. Psychological Science, 28(12), 1821\u20131832. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0956797617723726[\/footnote]<\/p>\r\nAdler and the inferiority complex<\/h3>\r\n
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Birth Order and Personality<\/h4>\r\n
Erik Erikson<\/h3>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n
\r\nAs you learned when you studied lifespan development, Erikson later proposed a psychosocial theory of development, suggesting that an individual\u2019s personality develops throughout the lifespan\u2014a departure from Freud\u2019s view that personality is fixed in early life. In his theory, Erikson emphasized the social relationships that are important at each stage of personality development, in contrast to Freud\u2019s emphasis on sex. Erikson identified eight stages, each of which represents a conflict or developmental task (Table 1). The development of a healthy personality and a sense of competence depend on the successful completion of each task.\r\n\r\n