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Old October 19th, 2004, 03:59 AM
Manu Jaaskelainen Manu Jaaskelainen is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kerava, Finland
Posts: 68
Default Re: Superiority/Inferiority

It is probably useful to search for a context where Adler is using this term (Ueberlegenheit, superiority). One such context is "Ueber den nervösen Charakter". I have available the Metzger edition, published by the Fischer-Verlag. On page 48, Adler is discussing the birth of neurosis. He presents first a lengthy discussion on the inferiority feeling, aggression, the need of overcoming the inner insecurity, and inner pressures and wants, and continues: "Alle Erscheinunge der Neurose stammen aus diesen vorbereitenden Mitteln, die dem Endziel einer Ueberlegenheit zustreben. Sie sind geistige Bereitschaften, immer fertig, um den Kampf um das Persönlichkeitsgefühl einzuleiten; sie gehorchen dem Kommando der leitenden Fiktion..." And so on. In this citation, you may find all the strategic terms: Überlegenheit, Fiktion, Ziel. Now you may search for a corresponding translation in CCWAA, Vol. 1. See page 9. "Every manifestation of the neurosis originates from these predisposing means, which strive toward the final goal superiority. They are mental predispositions, always ready to iniate the struggle for the feeling of self-worth; they obey the the commands of the guiding fiction." There are a number of other contexts in NC where this idea of superiority is discussed. Studying these contexts as wholes, especially the numerous case-studies, will reveal Adler's intentions behind this concept. However, Paul Miedma has right, in my opinion, in pointing out that there are subtle changes in Adler's use of the concept during the decades. But NC offers probably the best source to start the study of the concept of superiority and its conditions and transformations.

Last edited by Manu Jaaskelainen; October 25th, 2004 at 02:45 PM.. Reason: Some linguistic revisions
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