Main Entry: in·di·vid·u·al psychology
Pronunciation: "in-d&-'vij-(&-)w&l-, -'vij-&l-
Function: noun
: amodification of psychoanalysis developed by the Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler emphasizing feelings of inferiority and a desire for power as the primary motivating forces in human behavior
Cite This Source
individual psychology in·di·vid·u·al psychology (ĭn'də-vĭj'&oomacr;-əl)
n.
A theory of human behavior emphasizing the drive to overcome feelings of inferiority by compensation and the need to achieve personal goals that have value for society.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
individual psychology
body of theories of the Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler, who held that the main motives of human thought and behaviour are individual man's striving for superiority and power, partly in compensation for his feeling of inferiority. Every individual, in this view, is unique, and his personality structure-including his unique goal and ways of striving for it-finds expression in his style of life, this life-style being the product of his own creativity. Nevertheless, the individual cannot be considered apart from society; all important problems, including problems of general human relations, occupation, and love, are social
Learn more about individual psychology with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Cite This Source
Eric Li, MD is a specialized psychiatrist who produces results.
www.LosAngelesPsychiatrist.com
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
