What term did Adler use to name his approach?

What term did Adler use to name his approach?

• A. Psychoanalytic theory
• B. Humanistic therapy
• C. Behavioral analysis
• D. Individual psychology

Answer: (D)

Adler named his approach Individual psychology to emphasize the person as a unique, indivisible whole. This view regards personality as a unified system shaped by goals, purpose, and social context, rather than just unconscious urges or learned behaviors. central to this approach is the idea that people develop a distinctive style of life and strive to overcome feelings of inferiority through socially useful goals and actions, highlighting the importance of social interest and connection. That focus on the whole person and their purposeful, socially embedded striving is what the term captures. It’s different from psychoanalytic theory, which centers on unconscious conflicts and early childhood psychosexual development; from humanistic therapy, which highlights self-actualization and client-centered growth; and from behavioral analysis, which concentrates on observable behaviors and conditioning.

Adler named his approach Individual psychology to emphasize the person as a unique, indivisible whole. This view regards personality as a unified system shaped by goals, purpose, and social context, rather than just unconscious urges or learned behaviors. central to this approach is the idea that people develop a distinctive style of life and strive to overcome feelings of inferiority through socially useful goals and actions, highlighting the importance of social interest and connection.

That focus on the whole person and their purposeful, socially embedded striving is what the term captures. It’s different from psychoanalytic theory, which centers on unconscious conflicts and early childhood psychosexual development; from humanistic therapy, which highlights self-actualization and client-centered growth; and from behavioral analysis, which concentrates on observable behaviors and conditioning.