Reference no: EM132940712

The Adlerian Approach: Overview and Basic Assumptions

According to the Adlerian approach, people are primarily social beings, influenced and motivated by societal forces. Adlerian therapy rests on a central belief that our happiness is largely related to social connectedness. Because we are embedded in a society, we cannot be understood in isolation from that social context. We are primarily motivated by a desire to belong. Human nature is viewed as creative, active, and decisional. The approach focuses on the unity of the person and on understanding the individual's subjective perspective. The subjective decisions each person makes regarding the specific direction of this striving form the basis of the individual's lifestyle (or personality style). The lifestyle consists of our beliefs and assumptions about others, the world, and ourselves; these views lead to distinctive behaviors that we adopt in pursuit of our life goals. We can shape our own future by taking risks and making decisions in the face of unknown consequences. People who seek counseling are not viewed as being "sick"; rather, they are seen as being discouraged and functioning on the basis of self-defeating and self-limiting assumptions. Clients require encouragement to correct mistaken perceptions of self and others and to learn to initiate new behavioral interaction patterns.

1. What are some techniques that can be useful from this theory?
2. How can this approach be use for a person to better understand themselves?