On October 3rd, we will begin a discussion of The Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler, Volume 6, Chapters XX & XXI. The following chapter summaries were prepared by Manu Jaaskelainen.
Ch. XX
Individual Psychology (1930) was originally published in a volume [i]Psychologies of 1930[i], a collection of papers from the representatives of various schools of psychology. Adler's paper begins with a reference to a work entitled "Der Aggressionstrieb im Leben und in der Neurose". Adler gives as a date of publication 1906; however, the paper was published in 1908, and it is reprinted in CCWAA, Vol. 2 as "The Aggression Drive in Life and in the Neurosis." In the paper of 1908, Adler expands the meaning of aggression in a notable way: he says that aggression is, in general, a way of dealing with the problems and obstacles occurring in the life space. Adler transfers this same concept to his paper of 1930. Adler refers also to his concept of organ inferiority, but here he says that what is essential is the experience of the inferiority, not the inferiority as such. Adler recapitulates the historical landmarks in the development of individual psychology, including his ideas of goal-directed striving and human sociability. For Adler, the basic task is to find the guiding thread of the client's life. This he finds comparing all details in his/her life. "Only a perfect coincidence of the whole and all the parts gives us the right to say: I understand."
Ch. XXI
Again - The Unity of the Neuroses (1930) is a paper on the holistic nature of personality. "Indeed, we can only uncover the style of life when by abstracting we exclude less suitable ways of expressing it. It is the same with recognizing a style in painting, architecture, and music." So the method to find the essence of the personality is to study and comprehend the person's usual, repeated ways of expressing himself. Adler comments on Gestalt psychology and says that this school of psychology understands the idea of the dominating wholeness. However, Adler is not satisfied with mere Gestalt; every note must be related to the melody. "We are satisfied only when we have recognized in it the original driving attitude, for example in Bach, his lifestyle." In addition, the paper contains much critical polemics against psychoanalysis; however, this part of the chapter is today mainly of historical interest. There are some interesting case studies that illustrate Adler's arguments.
To order your copy of Volume 6, go to
http://go.ourworld.nu/hstein/cwaa-v6.htm .