Trevor,

Like Manu, I too seem to recall this idea, but cannot find it when searching Adler's writings. However, Alexander Mueller comes reasonably close to the concept. The followings excerpts are from his unpublished manuscript The Principles of Individual Psychology.

"When sustaining his life become's man's primary goal, then he can satisfy himself by meeting his needs. However, if he seeks 'absolute' security for his subsistence, or even if he seeks only a relative security when compared to that of others, then he thinks that his means are never sufficient.

We never know whether we shall be here tomorrow, but the probability for that is good. The courageous person lives with that probability; the discouraged person wants security - security with regard to life, and security with regard to success in every one of his possible undertakings. The reinforced striving for security can result in a striving for power.

When the tendencies for security and anxiety are reinforced and exaggerated, they can obstruct life itself. Since life exists amid risks and dangers, living in security cannot be realized. If man strives for absolute instead of relative security, then his life will be accompanied by anxiety, tension, and fear. The avoidance of danger will become the Leitmotif of his existence. It leads to a constricting of the radius of his life, to a distancing from various areas and tasks, and in the end to a retreat from life. Life is exchanged for an unreal feeling of security, which, however, is constantly being bruised and must repeatedly be secured anew, or recaptured by devious means."

__________________
Henry T. Stein, Ph.D,
http://www.Adlerian.us