Chapter Four: Individual Psychology

Question 1

What are inferiority feelings?

Answer 1

The source of all human striving. A normal condition for everyone.

Question 2

What is compensation?

Answer 2

The motivation to overcome real or imagined inferiority to strive and grow.

Question 3

How do infants develop inferiority?

Answer 3

Through dependence on their parents and how they are hopeless and unable to challenge the power.

Question 4

Is inferiority genetically determined?

Answer 4

No it is a function of environment.

Question 5

What causes an inferiority complex?

Answer 5

The inability to compensate for feelings of inferiority.

Question 6

What is an inferiority complex?

Answer 6

People who have poor opinions of themself, feel helpless, can can not cope with the demands of life.

Question 7

What are the three sources in childhood that cause an inferiority complex?

Answer 7

Organic inferiority, spoiling, and neglect.

Question 8

What is organic inferiority?

Answer 8

Physically weak people. Defective body parts or organs.

Question 9

What is spoiling?

Answer 9

Making the child the center of attention. Little is denied and every need is satisfied.

Question 10

What is neglecting?

Answer 10

A lack of love and security from indifferent or hostile parents.

Question 11

What causes a superiority complex?

Answer 11

The overcompensation for feelings of inferiority.

Question 12

What is a superiority complex?

Answer 12

People who are self-centered, boastful, and denigrates others.

Question 13

What are the two ways a superiority complex can be developed?

Answer 13

A person needs to become successful, or they may just feel superior without the need to demonstrate it.

Question 14

What is striving for superiority?

Answer 14

A drive for perfection to make ourselves complete and whole.

Question 15

What is fictional finalism?

Answer 15

The idea that we have an ultimate goal that is imagined which guides our behaviour.

Question 16

What is the style of life?

Answer 16

How we uniquely attain our goal of superiority. It is influenced by our social environment.

Question 17

What is the creative power of self?

Answer 17

That individuals have the ability to create an appropriate style of life from abilities and experiences.

Question 18

What are the four basic styles of life?

Answer 18

The dominant type, getting type, avoiding type, and socially useful type.

Question 19

What is the dominant type?

Answer 19

A superiority complex. Has no regard for people, has a ruling attitude, and can attack themselves or others.

Question 20

What is the getting type?

Answer 20

The most common type. Expects to receive satisfaction through other people. They become dependent on others.

Question 21

What is the avoiding type?

Answer 21

An inferiority complex. Makes no attempt to face problems and avoids the possibility of failure.

Question 22

What is the socially useful type?

Answer 22

The closest to perfection. They cooperate with others in accordance with their needs.

Question 23

What is social interest?

Answer 23

The biological potential to cooperate with other people in order to achieve goals.

Question 24

How does birth order impact us?

Answer 24

It helps to shape style of life and is a major social influence.

Question 25

What is the first born child like?

Answer 25

They are intellectually developed, organized, authoritarian, and insecure.

Question 26

What happens to first born children?

Answer 26

Parents have a more focused attention on the child but then they are dethroned when the second child is born.

Question 27

What does the first born child do in response to dethronement?

Answer 27

They fight to regain their former position and privilege.

Question 28

What is the second born child like?

Answer 28

They are optimistic, competitive, and ambitious.

Question 29

What happens if the second child can not surpass the first child?

Answer 29

They give up on tasks and become an underachiever.

Question 30

What happens to the second born child?

Answer 30

They are lead by example of the first born and become competitive.

Question 31

What is the youngest child like?

Answer 31

They are high achievers driven by the need to surpass older siblings. They may also be dependent if they are pampered.