On October 24th, we will begin a discussion of The Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler, Volume 6, Chapters XXIV & XXV. The following chapter summaries were prepared by Manu Jaaskelainen.
Ch. XXIV
The Meaning of Life (1931) is a paper on a subject that was a pervasive one in Adler's thinking. Adler begins exploring the dividion of labor in society--this idea leads to the necessity of cooperation. Human beings find the meaning of their life in human society and in common experiences. Today we would like to say that the key to the meaning of life is in sharing common experiences and common values. This is "common sense" or social interest: "Those who have demonstrated belonging to the community understand common sense. ... Feeling valuable results from a successful contribution to others and is the only direction in which the average inferiority feelings of people experience a successful compensation. To be valuable means to have contributed. Thus, human happiness can be found only in applied social interest."
Ch. XXV
Trick and Neurosis (1931) is another favorite theme of Adler. "Tricks" as Adler calls them, are a pervasive quality of all human life. All human achievements and inventions are products of some "tricks". Poetry, dreams, and magic are products of some "tricks" or "trickiness". However, in human neuroses tricks a highly problematic function. Jokes are in the main harmless, but neurotic tricks are not so harmless. They serve the function of keeping the person permanently alienated from social realities. The paper contains numerous examples of neurotic tricks. It is the task of Individual Psychology to show the individual his/her trick and convince him/her that he/she has employed this trick without knowing it. It can serve the means to avoid challenges and social facts. Often, the insecurity of the person is not real; in fact, he or she has no need for "tricks".
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