Alfred Adler's Theory Of Personality

Adler Alfred Adler’s theory of personality largely revolved around birth order, style of life, and inferiority. Adler believed that infants are born into feeling inferior which in turn leads to overcompensation in order to turn our weaknesses into strengths. His idea of superiority striving, striving to improve oneself and achieve your own personal best, has been a characteristic of my personality since I can remember (Cloninger, p. 72). I have always had goals and dreams that have the same outcome: be a person who helps others more than their self. In order to achieve this, I have consistently challenged myself as well as changed my life goals when it was necessary. This personality characteristic has been supported by the idea of fictional …show more content…
Horney’s three interpersonal orientations included: moving toward, moving away, and moving against. Her theory was that a healthy, non-neurotic individual should express all three orientations when the circumstances call for it (Cloninger, p. 107). If Horney could view my life, I believe she would consider my interpersonal orientation a healthy mix of the three. At times, I can fall more towards the moving toward people orientation than any other. As stated above in the example for Adler, I am a person who actively seeks love and approval from my significant other to overcome my feelings of helplessness when I am excessively stressed or anxiety-ridden. When the affection is not automatically given to me, I begin to feel less emotionally secure which drives the dependence even more. At other moments of my life, I identify with the moving against people orientation. My self-worth is highly derived from my success in academics as well as advancements in my career. Although these are factors which make me feel as though I have a purpose, it is motivated by my anxiety over not knowing what is to come in the future and attempting to have as much control over it as possible. Other times, I may express characteristics of the moving away from people orientation. I fear rejection and hurt, therefore I often …show more content…
The Identity vs. Identity Diffusion stage occurs during adolescence in which school-aged children are approaching adulthood. This stage is characterized by experimenting with individuality in order to discover one’s identity, the “sense of sameness between one’s meaning for oneself and one’s meaning for others in the social world” (Cloninger, p. 92). After exploring one’s spirituality, career possibilities, and other worldviews, a successful identity is developed and is considered the positive pole of the Identity vs. Identity Diffusion stage. Achieving this ego identity, the self-formed idea of who we are already as well as who we strive to become, is the successful outcome (End-berg, 2015). In contrast, the negative pole is characterized by a failure to discover one’s own identity inevitably leading to identity confusion, uncertainty of who you are and what you want to accomplish in life (End-berg, 2015). Identity confusion may lead to withdrawal from positive influences, an inferiority complex, and an undesirable role in society. This could lead to diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder or Avoidant Personality Disorder (End-Berg, 2015). During adolescence and the achievement of ego identity, career choices are instrumental. This is aided by a moratorium, a period in which an adolescent is able to explore various roles without commitment