Feist−Feist: Theories of
Personality, Seventh
EditionII. Psychodynamic
Theories- Adler: Individual
Psychology
(^86) © The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2009
and dogmatic style of life. These three characteristics follow inevitably from a lack of
social interest. In short, people become failures in life because they are overconcerned
with themselves and care little about others. Maladjusted people set extravagant
goals as an overcompensation for exaggerated feelings of inferiority. These lofty
goals lead to dogmatic behavior, and the higher the goal, the more rigid the striving.
To compensate for deeply rooted feelings of inadequacy and basic insecurity, these
individuals narrow their perspective and strive compulsively and rigidly for unreal-
istic goals.
The exaggerated and unrealistic nature of neurotics’ goals sets them apart from
the community of other people. They approach the problems of friendship, sex, and
occupation from a personal angle that precludes successful solutions. Their view of
the world is not in focus with that of other individuals and they possess what Adler
(1956) called “private meaning” (p. 156). These people find everyday living to be
hard work, requiring great effort. Adler (1929/1964) used an analogy to describe
how these people go through life.
In a certain popular music hall, the “strong” man comes on and lifts an enormous
weight with care and intense difficulty. Then, during the hearty applause of the
audience, a child comes in and gives away the fraud by carrying the dummy
weight off with one hand. There are plenty of neurotics who swindle us with such
weights, and who are adepts at appearing overburdened. They could really dance
with the load under which they stagger. (p. 91)
External Factors in Maladjustment
Why do some people create maladjustments? Adler (1964) recognized three con-
tributing factors, any one of which is sufficient to contribute to abnormality: (1) ex-
aggerated physical deficiencies, (2) a pampered style of life, and (3) a neglected style
of life.
Exaggerated Physical Deficiencies
Exaggerated physical deficiencies, whether congenital or the result of injury or dis-
ease, are not sufficient to lead to maladjustment. They must be accompanied by ac-
centuated feelings of inferiority. These subjective feelings may be greatly encour-
aged by a defective body, but they are the progeny of the creative power.
Each person comes into the world “blessed” with physical deficiencies, and
these deficiencies lead to feelings of inferiority. People with exaggerated physical
deficiencies sometimes develop exaggerated feelings of inferiority because they
overcompensate for their inadequacy. They tend to be overly concerned with them-
selves and lack consideration for others. They feel as if they are living in enemy
country, fear defeat more than they desire success, and are convinced that life’s major
problems can be solved only in a selfish manner (Adler, 1927).
Pampered Style of Life
A pampered style of life lies at the heart of most neuroses. Pampered people have
weak social interest but a strong desire to perpetuate the pampered, parasitic rela-
tionship they originally had with one or both of their parents. They expect others to
80 Part II Psychodynamic Theories