Dear Richard,

It is probably true based on secondary sources.

Freud, Adler and Jung are mentioned in my father's letters from the second world war when he studied psychology and theology at east front 1940-1944 during the bombings between Finland and Russia. Helsinki university had their students to read  Freud , Adler and Jung . Freud and Adler met 1902 and founded Wiennas Psychoanalytic Association and Adler became the first chairman. Adler was influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche. He was focused on style of  life, aggression and will to power instead of will to pleasure. Neurosis was the result of compensation for  inferior complex with unrealistic goals and survival instinct along with the will to power. Adler's theory of personality based upon:

Inferiority feelings and inferiority complex,

Striving for superiority

Style of life

Social interest

Family constellation

Fictional finalism

The creative self

Masculine protest

The interpretation of dreams

Theory of psychotherapy.

It is claimed that "He pioneered ideas and techniques that have become the basis for most contemporary work including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Reality Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Existential Therapy, Holistic Psychology and Family Therapy to name a few.  Theorists as diverse as Karen Horney, Erich Fromm, Viktor Frankl, Abraham Maslow, Albert Ellis, and Aaron T. Beck credit Adler's work as an important basis for their own contributions.  Adler was one of the earliest theorists to utilize a short-term, active, focused and solution-oriented approach to psychotherapy.  Adler's work is fundamental to the professions and practices of school psychology, school counseling, the community mental health movement and parent education. As a dynamic and vital view of human development, Individual Psychology continues to grow and thrive in a changing world."

However, it is worth remembering that Ellis and Beck went through their own psychoanalysis themselves but became frustrated that psychoanalysis was such a long and expensive "treatment" and shortened it up.

Durbin, Paul G.. "Introduction to Alfred Adler.(President's Corner)(Biography)." Subconsciously Speaking. Infinity Institute International, Inc. 2004. Retrieved December 22, 2008 from Encyclopedia.com:http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-128445468.html  

Beatrice, thank your response. I am very familiar with Adler, so let me reword my question for everyone. In your academic training, were you introduced to how Adler's theory evolved over time; particularly after WWI? I have written extensively on Adlerian theory and practice and find secondary source texts often used in education settings as providing inadequate or inaccurate information. They seldom discuss Adler's evolution from a psychoanalytic-oriented theory to his later formulation: one that integrates cognitive, constructivist, humanistic-existential, systemic, and psychodynamic perspectives.

Not really, Adler was never as important as Freud was for me (and Jung was the favorite of my father). Sorry to write things you are very familiar with. Somehow I find it fascinating that a soldier studies Adler when Russian bombs are raining on his head.

No need to apologize. I did not make my initial question clear. Please explain the "soldier studies Adler when Russian bombs etc." comment. Thanks.

I was just refering to the letter I mentioned earlier 

Hello, Richard and Béatrice. To answer the question baldly is "No," and I confess that I had not picked up subsequently on Adler's evolution. My excuse is that I hail from the Rogerian camp. Having gotten that out of the way, I am greatly intrigued by several aspects of your conversation. Neither in order nor exclusively: (1) The study and appreciation of the growth and development of the ideas of any great thinker is always enlightening. (2) The notion of power, rather than pleasure, being fundamental to the psychology of neurosis rings true if one considers human evolution (the archaeology of neurosis and the theoretical reconstruction of human development, as it were). (3) Which leaves me in a position. The link to Durbin 2004 goes to an Oops page, regrettably.  I am left, as an unwashed and unlearned undergraduate, seeking bibliographical signposts. Where do you suggest I begin?

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-128445468.html

Beatrice, I apologize for missing that mention of your father's letter.  Perhaps your father was studying to give a respite from the horrors of war.  He is probably a brilliant mind who needed stimulation that was certainly missing as he experienced the bombings.  Thanks again for your replies. 

Dane, you might find my writings on Adler and Adlerian therapy helpful (I apologize if this sounds pretentious),  I have devoted the last 20+ years of my life writing on Adlerian theory/therapy, its applications, and integration with other approaches. Many of my writings and presentation notes are on Researchgate.  I recently added two entries (Alfred Adler, Adlerian therapy) that will appear in a forthcoming encyclopedia of counseling and psychotherapy to be published by Sage.  They might be a good start.  Also, you might find my article on the common ground between Adler's social interest and Rogers' core conditions of interest.  In 1927-28, Rogers was doing his doctoral internship and Adler was a visiting professor at the location of his internship.  I do not think Rogers "stole" anything from Adler, but rather drew ideas from the same pool of wisdom (a wisdom well, if you will) and, therefore, they share many similarities albeit using different nomenclature.  Another example is what Rogers calls "incongrence" looks remarkably similar to Adler's notion of overwhelming feelings of inferiority.  In both cases, there is a gap between who/what one perceives he or she should be and the perception of who/what he or she is in the present experiencing. 

I am happy to discuss Adler and Adlerian ideas with you (or other Researchgate colleagues) via Skype.  Please feel invited to email me and I will share my Skype address.  My email is [email protected]

Thanks for your reply, Dane.  rew

Thank you, Richard, for this generous offer and for the leads you have given me. And: No, it doesn't sound pretentious! At first glance, it seems Adler's position "among the greats" needs and deserves wider appreciation. Richard, you have given me a lot of reading to do for which I am grateful!

Dane

Thanks for your reply, Dane. 

Hi Richard.

As you can see I am at North Dakota State now. Always enlightening to hear your take on Adler and the evolution of his ideas. Why do you think writers after Adler have tended to ignore or perhaps minimize the evolution of his theory? 

Hi, Todd.  Congratulations on the new job. 

Todd, the short answer is that Adler's ideas did not fit with the zeitgeist of his time, especially the later part of his life (1920-1937).  The psychoanalytic camp had the training institutes and the behaviorists had the academy.  The former ignored Adler's ideas because Adler disagreed with Freud and left. The behaviorists considered Adler's ideas "unscientific."  Thus, students who later developed most of the theories discussed in our textbooks today were either taught an inaccurate version of Adler's ideas or were not taught Adlerian ideas at all.  Therefore, they subsequently "rediscovered" most of the Adlerian psychology/therapy tenets and included them in their theories (albeit using different nomenclature) but, not being familiar with Adler, did not realize that these ideas were part of Adler's theory and approach to therapy and did not mention Adler's precursory and pioneering influence.  And it continues today in many textbooks.  I direct you the later section of my article, "Roots of Contemporary Cognitive Theories in the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler" where I discuss the "lack of recognition" question more fully. You can find the article on my Researchgate page.  Thanks for the question.  Blessings to you and yours.  rew

It's interesting to me that you have asked this question, Richard. I go to Adler University in Chicago, so yeah, we have a series of classes about his psychology and treatment using that modality. :)

Thanks, Charley.  I know several current and former faculty members at Adler (and several alumni), so I am familiar with AU's curriculum.  Please give Dr. Leigh Johnson-Migalski my best regards.  I hope you have an excellent semester.  

Unfortunately, only cursory mention was made of Adler. Very interesting to read your question and brief summation of his later, more integrative approach. 

Thanks, Mark.  I am fairly certain your experience is a common one.  In my doctoral personality theory class, Adler would have received only cursory attention (and that being Adler in the Viennese Psychoanalytic Society [1902-1911]) had I not vigorously requested to write my term paper on Adlerian personality theory, with particular emphasis on his post WWI development.

No, not much at all if you mean in terms of coursework. 

However, my doctoral practicum involved reading his work on early memories, specifically their implications for psychological assessment. 

Thanks, David. What clients attend to in their early recollections (ERs) communicates volumes regarding here-and-now functioning. ER work is extremely valuable for maneuvering around clients' safe-guarding (or defense) mechanisms.

Before studying at the Adler Institute, I heard of Adler in my undergrad training: one class in "theories of personality" very short and not very accurate...

Thanks, Anabella.  Your experience resonates with many others.  It is no wonder that Adler is misunderstood and all to often neglected.  Albert Ellis, who did become familiar with Adler's work, stated, "Adler, probably more than even Freud, is the true father of modern psychotherapy" and identified Adler as the most influential source for his development of REBT.  Thus, if Ellis and Beck are the "fathers" of CBT, it appears that Adler is the "grandfather."  Please see attached article addressing the precursory influence of Adler on cognitive approaches to therapy.

thanks!