Alfred Adler, an Austrian psychiatrist and psychologist, is the founder of individual psychology. He was born on 7 February 1870 in the town of Pötzleinsdorf, Austria, and died on 28 May 1937 in Aberdeen, Scotland, during a conference. Unlike Freud’s theories of the unconscious, Adler focused on the impact of individuals’ life goals and social interactions on psychological health.
Adler’s childhood was marked by struggles with health problems. He suffered severely from rickets and pneumonia like, which sparked his early interest in the human body and health. His determination to overcome his fragile physique laid the personal foundation for the concept of “inferiority complex” he later developed. These challenges not only led him toward medicine but also fostered a deep desire to understand human psychological resistance and sources of motivation.
Adler began his medical education in 1895 at the University of Vienna. From the outset of his medical training, Adler became interested not only in the physiological dimensions of illness but also in how individuals’ lifestyles, social environments, and internal attitudes influenced recovery. This approach pushed him beyond the boundaries of classical medicine and directed him to examine human behavior within a more holistic framework. Over time, not only body but also the individual’s place within their society, their goals and relationships became integral to Adler’s research. This social perspective eventually became one of the foundational pillars of individual psychology.
Although Adler initially framed his observations within the context of only medicine, his interest in psychology grew, and in 1902 he met Freud and began working in the field of psychoanalysis.
After beginning his collaboration with Freud, Adler felt increasingly dissatisfied with certain aspects of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and gradually distanced himself from it. While Freud argued that much of human psychology is shaped by unconscious drives, Adler viewed social relationships and future life goals as more important factors. In 1911, due to fundamental idea differences between Adler and Freud, Adler left the Psychoanalytic Society led by Freud and began developing his own theory. During this period, Adler adopted a more original approach to individual psychology.
After the split, Adler systematized his psychological approach under the name “individual psychology.” His new framework placed the individual’s interaction with their social environment, goal-directed behaviors, and lifestyle at the center of psychological assessment. This process marks the beginning of a period in which psychoanalytic science diverged into distinct paths, with Freud and Adler making different contributions to the field.
During the development of individual psychology, Adler argued that human behavior is shaped not only by unconscious drives but also by social context and personal goals. Concepts such as inferiority complex, striving for superiority, and social interest hold central positions in the theory of individual psychology. Adler maintained that every individual seeks to feel stronger and more valuable, but emphasized that this striving must be directed healthily.
Adler did not limit individual psychology to clinical applications; he also defended its validity in education, family structure, and social values. According to him, an individual’s lifestyle is shaped by childhood experiences and family roles. This lifestyle influences how the person perceives the world, copes with challenges, and sets future goals. Adler’s approach is based on a holistic evaluation model that seeks to understand every aspect of an individual’s life, distinguishing it from other psychodynamic theories of the time.
Individual psychology aims not only to eliminate symptoms in therapy but also to develop the individual’s life purpose, social functioning, and sense of value. Adler proposed that most psychological problems stem from feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy, or exclusion; therefore, he stressed the importance of strengthening social bonds and helping individuals adopt goals that enrich their lives. This perspective transformed individual psychology into not merely a therapy method but also a comprehensive philosophy of life.
The concept of “inferiority complex,” one of the foundational ideas of the theory, refers to a psychological state arising from an individual’s feeling of inadequacy, which is often compensated for through various compensation mechanisms. This feeling is frequently counterbalanced by what Adler called “striving for superiority”; individual, the individual makes efforts to excel in certain areas to feel more competent and powerful. “Social interest” is one of Adler’s most central concepts regarding psychological health. This concept denotes the tendency to cooperate with others, feel a sense of belonging, and contribute to society. According to Adler, a healthy individual not only focuses on personal goals but also establishes harmonious and functional relationships with their social environment.
Adler’s concept of inferiority complex holds a significant place in his theory. This concept describes a psychological state in which individuals feel inferior to others. The inferiority complex can hinder a person from realizing their potential. However, individuals may develop various strategies, such as striving for superiority, to cope with these feelings.
According to Adler, the feeling of inferiority is a natural part of human development and can serve as a primary motivational force toward self-transcendence and competence. However, when this feeling extends beyond healthy limits and leads the individual to consistently evaluate their self-worth negatively, it is defined as an inferiority complex. The inferiority complex can weaken relationships with others and lead to withdrawal, jealousy, or passivity. Adler noted that an individual can overcome this condition through striving for superiority, but if this striving is not integrated with social interest, it may drive the person toward narcissistic or excessively competitive attitudes.
One of the most important concepts in Adler’s understanding of individual psychology is social interest. Social interest expresses the desire to live in harmony with society, help others, and contribute to the community. Adler argued that psychological well-being should be based not only on individual achievements but also on social responsibility.
According to Adler, social interest (Gemeinschaftsgefühl) is a potential present from birth but is developed through environmental conditions and upbringing. This concept implies that individuals must live not only in pursuit of their own interests but also by considering the needs of others and the general welfare of society. Adler maintained that healthy psychological development and social adaptation are directly linked to an individual’s sensitivity toward the community. Social interest is not merely a moral responsibility but is also regarded as a fundamental building block for psychological balance and life satisfaction.
Social interest also holds a central position in Adler’s therapeutic approach. He suggested that many psychological problems are related to social isolation, insufficient empathy, or a weakened sense of belonging. Therefore, in psychological counseling, Adler emphasized supporting individuals to increase their contributions to society, develop skills for cooperation with others, and build empathetic relationships. Adler’s approach has laid the foundation for contemporary approaches that emphasize how social bonds and social responsibility are intertwined with individual well-being in modern psychotherapy.
Adler stated that humans are constantly engaged in a striving for superiority. This striving serves as a motivational force that enables a person to make life meaningful. However, this effort can sometimes become excessive and hinder healthy psychological development.
According to Adler, striving for superiority is an attempt to compensate for innate feelings of inadequacy. This effort should not be understood merely as a desire to outperform others but as an aspiration for self-realization and the expression of one’s potential. Adler noted that every individual moves through life guided by goals, which are typically associated with values such as personal growth, competence, and contribution to the environment. Thus, striving for superiority functions as a guiding power in the individual’s process of making sense of their life.
However, Adler also warned that this motivation can take unhealthy forms. An excessive and obsessive pursuit of superiority can weaken relationships with others and foster narcissistic tendencies. In such cases, the individual may seek to control or belittle others rather than cooperate with them. According to Adler, healthy striving for superiority must serve not only the goal of self-elevation but also the ideal of contributing to society. When this balance is achieved, the individual can sustain both personal fulfillment and social harmony.
After leaving the field of psychoanalysis, Adler developed individual psychology as a therapeutic approach. In 1912, he delivered a conference introducing individual psychology at the “German Psychoanalytic Society.” Adler supported individuals in their personal development by focusing on their life goals and social contexts in therapy.
Adler’s theories hold a significant place today, especially in family therapy, child psychology, and education. Therapists aim to foster healthier psychological development by focusing on individuals’ social contexts and future goals. This theory has gained an important position in psychological literature and has served as a foundation for various psychotherapeutic approaches.
Adler’s theory of individual psychology established the understanding that psychological treatment must evaluate the individual not only in terms of their inner world but also in relation to their social environment, life goals, and social roles. This approach argues that psychological support must address not only symptoms but also life conditions and social bonds. Adler’s theory is based on the idea that psychological counseling should not be limited to providing individual insight but must empower the individual to become a more functional member of society.
Adler’s influence is clearly evident in contemporary fields such as counseling, school based guidance services, and family therapy. The theory of individual psychology has provided flexibility and a holistic perspective to many modern psychotherapeutic approaches, with Adlerian influences observable in positive psychology, humanistic therapy, and solution focused therapy. Moreover, Adler’s early emphasis on social responsibility and cooperation is still regarded today as a relevant perspective in social psychology and educational psychology.
Alfred Adler’s theory of individual psychology offers a significant theoretical frame for understanding the psychological development of adolescents. Adolescence is a period during which individuals face developmental tasks such as identity formation, learning social roles, and developing a sense of belonging. Challenges experienced during this phase, when viewed through Adler’s concepts of social interest and self-realization, provide important insights into the individual’s psychological resilience and social adaptation.
Adler’s approach provides a foundation that helps young individuals recognize and develop their potential within educational and psychological counseling practices. This theory, which emphasizes functionality and contribution capacity within the social context, encourages young people not only to pursue individual success but also to cultivate a lifestyle harmonious with society. In this way, Adler’s theory of individual psychology presents a constructive model that supports the balanced and socially responsible development of young individuals.
Adler’s theoretical framework addresses human behavior not only through unconscious processes but also through the individual’s life goals, relationships with their environment, and level of social belonging. This multidimensional approach has endowed psychological counseling and therapeutic practices with a person-centered yet socially contextualized holistic perspective. Particularly in the processes of self-discovery, building social relationships, and setting life goals among young individuals, Adlerian theories are regarded as important theoretical foundations for development support.
Education and Early Life
Relationship and Separation from Freud
Individual Psychology and Core Concepts
Inferiority Complex
Social Interest
Striving for Superiority
Adler’s Influence and Legacy
Alfred Adler and Adolescent Psychology