Reflections About Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapy: Theory, Practice, and Life

Empathy Disorders

2011-11-28T07:50:00.000-08:00

Paul Bloom, in The New York Review of Books, June 11. 2011, reviewed "The Science of Evil: On Empahty and the Origina of Cruelty" by Simon Baron-Cohen. Baron-Cohen defines evil as nothing more than "empathy erosion." Psychopaths, narcissists, borderlines, seducers, manipulators, and con ment cause significant suffereng to those around them, due to a lck of compassion, and a willingness to destroy lives out of self-interest, malice, or boredom. The author even suggests a new psychiatric classification to be called "empathy disorders," describing people who ignore the suffwering of others in the pursuit of their own goals. In light of this argument, the recent segment on "60 Minutes," documenting the plight of American millions of chldren living in poverty, throws a penetrating light on Newt Ginrich's comment about paying poor children to clean schools so that they would learn a "work ethic." Is Washington, as well as many corporations, banks, and stock trading companies a magnet for people with "empathy disorders?"

Another View of the Roots of Freud's Theory

2011-11-27T17:21:00.001-08:00

In the October 13th 2011 issue of "The New York Review of Books," Frederick C. Crews wrote a controversion review of books by Gerald Imber and Howard Markel, titled "Physician heal Thyself," wherein he speculates on the origns of Freud's theories. According to Alfred Adler, a contemporary of Sigmund Freud, earliest childhood recollections usually reveal the dynamic roots of the personality. Two of Freud's early collections may provide additional insight into his life and work, alongside Frederick Crew's cocaine hypothesis. Memory 1: At the age of 3 Freud still wet his bed. Reproached by his father, Freud said, "Don't worry papa, I will buy you a beautiful new red bed." Memory 2: At age 7 or 8, Freud recalls urinating deliberately in his parents' bedroom, and being reprimanded by his father, who said, "That boy will never amount to anything." Preoccupation with a urinary-sexual organ, aggression, compensatory ambition, and a father-son conflict could have transformed remembered early childhood experiences into an adult psychological theory.

Don't Forget Yesterday's Innovators - Adler & Maslow

2011-10-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

In his October 9th, 2011 New York Times article, "Where Are Tomorrow's Innovators," David Brooks comments on the recent absence of signficant technical and medical innovation in the United States, as well as a general absence of inspiring utopian visions. In the field of psychology, we have to look back to the 1930s to Alfred Adler, and to the 1960s to Abraham Maslow for inspiring visions of optimal human functioning. Both were visionaries way before their times. Maybe some day we can catch up to what they suggested decades ago.

Madman in Chief

2011-07-29T05:54:00.001-07:00

The recent issue of Newsweek included a review of a bizarre new book of psychiatric case studies by Nassir Chaemi titled, "A First Rate Madness." The provocative and spooky thesis is that great leadership is not characterized by a "splendidly healthy mind, but an exceptionally broken one." The author proposes that mood disorders, like depression and mania bring clear-eyed perception and resilience to a leader. In support of his opinions that madness is a close relative of genius, and that crazy leaders are often too sane for their time, the author provides an illustrative list of political and business leaders. Conspicuously missing from this book are the paranoid, sociopathic, and psychopathic figures of Hitler and Stalin. Stating that George W. Bush was "too normal" to deal with the September 11 attacks, raises serious questions about the author's judgement. Perhaps the author, director of the Mood Disorder Program at Tufts University, needs to get out a little more often.

Videos: Demonstration and Discussion of Classical Adlerian Brief Therapy

2011-07-14T09:33:00.001-07:00

In a 10-minute video, Henry T. Stein, Ph.D., demonstrates Classical Adlerian Brief Therapy with a colleague who role-plays one of her clients. The client begins by complaining about an indifferent husband who used to be nicer. Using a Socratic style of questioning, Dr. Stein diplomatically explores what the client has omitted in the relationship, eventually focusing on what she could do differently to engage her husband positively, even to surprise him, and to consider what else she might do to improve the situation.

In a follow-up 15-minute video, Dr. Stein explains his therapeutic strategies and responds to questions from a group. The therapist's optimism and faith in what the client could do, provides a persistent stream of encouragement, even if it only stimulates doubt in her current, limited beliefs. The benefits of group work and role-playing, as well as memories, dreams, and fantasies are also clarified.

These videos are available on our subscription site. A new, mid-year subscription rate of $45 is available at www.Adlerian.us/subscription.htm.

Medication vs Therapy for Children

2011-06-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

Another dangerous trend in medication! In a Newsweek article (6/27/11), "Mommy, Am I really Bipolar?," Dr. Stuart Kaplan, M.D. warns us of the recent trend of prescribing adult medications for very young childen. These drugs have no known effectiveness for children and plenty of known dangers. Side effects can include fatal damage to many organs.

Many of the observed symptoms that are being treated with drugs might be purposeful behavior that needs to be understood and corrected with psychotherapy.

Legal Drug Dealing

2011-06-20T08:21:00.001-07:00

In his latest book, "Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America," Robert Whitaker explores the insidious impact of anti-depressants, and other drugs on adults and chid ren. Not only are anti-depressants only marginally more effective than placebos, the side effects can have a harmful, long-term impact. Rather alarming, is his comment that "after several weeks on psychoactive drugs, the brain's compensatory efforts begin to fail and side effects emerge. Essentially, although sometimes providing temporary relief, many drugs progressively disable the natural compensatory functions of the brain, leaving the patient dependent on the drugs or requiring yet other drugs to relieve the side-effects of the original drugs. Sounds like a high-profit racket!

Supercooperators

2011-04-17T07:36:00.001-07:00

In their new book "Supercooperators," Morris Novick and Roger Highfield state that "most of the great innovations of life on earth, from genes, to cells, to societies, have been due to the "master architect" of evolution: cooperation." Figuring out how cooperation comes about and breaks down is the key to our survival as a species. They also stage that: language, cognition morality, and the division of labor are evolutionary spin offs of the fundamental need of social creatures to cooperate; and that cooperation can prevail if altruists cluster together.

Supremacy of a Social Network

2011-04-17T07:12:00.001-07:00

In a New York Times article (March 14, 2011, Nicholas Wade quotes Kim Hill, a social anthropologist at Arizona State University, who states that "The ability to cooperate, to make individuals subordinate their strong self-interest to the needs of the group, lies at the root of human achievement. We have rockets because 10,000 people cooperate in producing the information." In Dr, Hill;s views, Underlying human evolutionary success is the unusual ability of non-relatives to cooperate--in almost all other species, only closely related individuals will help each other.

Psychiatry Turning to Drug Therapy

2011-04-16T18:01:00.001-07:00

In a March 5th, 2011 article in the New York Times, reporter Gardiner Harris describes the trend of psychiatrists in the united States giving up talk therapy completely and only prescribing medication. Reduced insurance payments and pressure from hospitals and corporation have resulted in many psychiatrists seeing 1,200 patients for prescription adjustments, in 12-15 minute visits, often several months apart. With a catastrophic loss of intimacy, many psychiatrists cannot even remember their patients' names. A typical psychiatrist now sees 3-4 people in an hour, working an 11-hour day (40 patients/day!). In 2005, only 11 percent of psychiatrists provided talk therapy, leaving the field open to psychologists, marriage & family therapists, and social workers. Sadly, the profession seems to have caved in to a hard-nosed business practice. However, a few adventurous psychiatrists have cut ties with insurers, relying on full payment from clients and word-of-mouth referrals. The article does acknowledge that there is no evidence that psychiatrists provide higher quality talk therapy than psychologists, marriage and family therapists, or social workers. Is it possible that some of these psychiatrists might have been able to sustain a talk therapy practice by getting better training?

Paul Ryan's Cruel and Ludicrous Plan

2011-04-11T17:49:00.001-07:00

Paul Krugman, the New York Times columnist, in his recent article, "Ryan's Cruel and Ludicrous Plan," offers concluding comments about Paul Ryan's plan being cruel and mean-spirited, hitting the psychological bulls-eye with astute precision. An effective analytic strategy for understanding psychological intent is to examine the social effect. Extreme "cost-reduction" plans often thinly conceal the desire by many wealthy, powerful investors and legislators, to cause hardship and suffering for those "beneath them" financially. Alfred Adler, one of the pioneers in psychology, suggested that people who experience painful feelings of inadequacy may overcompensate by seeking extreme levels of wealth and power, usually at the expense of others. Their insatiable obsession can sometimes be relieved only by the mass deprivation of their victims. Adler called this form of aggression "the depreciation tendency." If we frame these financial issues as attempts to cause economic, social, and emotional harm, we might open the public's eyes to the real motives of some of their legislators. If certain Congressional representatives have no interest in promoting the common good, at least they might be shamed into doing no harm.

Even Bacteria Can Cooperate!

2011-04-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

In the December 2010 issue of Science, microbiologists Derek Lovley and Zarath Summers report a discovery of new cooperative behavior in anerobic bacteria, called "interspecies electron transfer." By sharing electrons, two microbes can consume food that neither of them can use on their own, working together in order to survive and grow. These microoganisms are then able to adapt to novel conditions, evolving to to function more effectively in a new, challenging envrionment. Too bad some larger organisms haven't learned the lesson of sharing resources.

Adlerian Perspective on Stuttering (The King's Speech and Personality)

2011-04-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

Alfred Adler's treament of symptoms, such as stuttering, is reflected in his comment, "If you want to improve speech, you must improve the whole personality" (The Literary Digest, May 3, 1936).

New Book - "Classical Adlerian Brief Therapy"

2011-03-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

"Classical Adlerian Brief Therapy: The Innovative Techniques of Anthony Bruck," has just been published by the Alfred Adler Institute of Northwestern Washington.

Anthony Bruck achieved remarkably quick results with individuals from many countries, often in unusual circumstances. Trained by Alfred Adler, he mastered Adler's theory, philosophy, and style of treatment. This volume on brief therapy offers psychotherapists and counselors his simple, appealing diagrams that illustrate Adler's theory; a variety of fascinating case illustrations; and strategies for helping clients achieve useful, practical improvements when therapeutic time is quite limited. Anthony's love of language and graphics adds a dramatic, clarifying dimension to the client-therapist dialogue. This book, including many of his charts and diagrams, provides a long overdue recognition of his unique contribution to Adlerian practice.

To purchase the book, or for additional information, visit www.Adlerian.us/cabt-book.htm.

New Student Subscription Discount at Classical Adlerian Web Site

2011-03-23T05:38:00.000-07:00

Students may now purchase a membership to our Subscription Site for $45.00 (a $30.00 discount from the basic $75.00 subscription). The subscription site contains an abundance of resource material, including books, articles, video and audio clips, and graphics. Online digital versions of Alfred Adler's popular books, "The Science of Living" and "Social Interest: A Challenge to Mankind," provide excellent introductions to Individual Psychology. These books are in PDF format, and have been re-formatted for wider, note-taking margins and enabled for highlighting and commenting in Adobe Reader. They may also be read in all e-books, making them very convenient for ongoing study. A convenient PayPal link is provided at www.Adlerian.us/subscription.htm To qualify, students must email a copy of their current, active student I.D. card to hstein@att.net.

Alfred Adler's "The Science of Living" Available Online

2011-02-20T08:10:00.000-08:00

At a lecture in Vienna on February 4th, 1930, when Alfred Adler was asked about the best beginning book to read on Individual Psychology, he recommended "The Science of Living." An online version, in PDF format, with a bookmarked table of contents, is now available at the Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapy Subscription Site at www.Adlerian.us/subscription.htm. Using Adobe Reader, the document may be searched, highlighted, and commented for personal study.

New Book on Classical Adlerian Subscription Site

2011-02-09T06:54:00.000-08:00

A complete online version of Alexander Mueller's "You Shall be a Blessing: Main Traits of a Religious Humanism," is now available at the Classical Adlerian Subscription Site. Mueller's book presents his thoughts on the deeper philosophical and spiritual aspects of social interest, the roots of which are seen in connection to man's relationship with creation. Mueller's book is packed with wisdom, insight, and challenge, significantly enriching Adler's philosophy.

The subscription site also includes: video and audio clips of Alfred Adler and other Classical Adlerians; theme packs of complete articles by Adler; graphics that illustrate Adlerian constructs; unpublished articles and lectures; and transcriptions of therapy demonstrations and interviews. For a summary of the site's contents, and information about subscribing, or renewing subscriptions for 2011, go to http://www.Adlerian.us/subscription.htm.

Inequality Kills! - Adler and Economics

2010-09-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

In their masterful and provocative new book, "The Spirit Level," epidemiologists Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett present statistical evidence of the sociallly corrosive impact of inequality. They claim that many of our widespread, chronic, social problems like: mental illness, drug abuse, infant mortality, shortened life expectancy, obesity, poor educational achievement, teenage births and pregnancies, homicides and violence, as well as high rates of imprisionment, are strongly influenced by economic, social, and psychological inequality. Although they mention Alfred Adler briefly, they emphasize the connection of real and perceived inequality of the development of trust, liberty, and fellowship. Check out their web site at http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/.

How Alfred Adler Chose His Career

2010-08-26T10:28:00.001-07:00

"How I Chose My Career," an article by Alfred Adler, has been added to the Classical Adlerian subscription site. Written in 1937, the inspiring article reveals Adler's earliest memories, and the recurrent themes of: personal organ inferiority, family influences, and his persistent struggle to overcome difficulties. For more information, visit http://www.adlerian.us./

The Meaning of Life

2010-07-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

In his profound and inspiring lecture, "The Meaning of Life," (available at www.Adlerian.us/tp-7b.htm) Alfred Adler offers a clear, practical philosophy of living, achievable by anyone. The directness and clarity of Adler's ideas make them easily understandable. However, upon closer study, his seeming simplicity actually embraces a richness, complexity, and depth that many critics miss. I invite you to read Adler's lecture and share your comments in our discussion forum at www.behavior.net/bolforums/forumdisplay.php?f=6.

History of Adler's Vienna Guidance Clinics

2010-06-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

A vivid, comprehensive history of Adler's Vienna Guidance Clinics, by Sophie Lazarsfeld, is now available for preview at www.Adlerian.us/ten-years-preview.htm. In addition to working with parents, teachers, and children, some clinics also worked with adults and couples utilizing the public discussion format. Lazarsfeld includes several insightful case illustrations, including follow-ups by written correspondence and newspaper advice columns.

New Photographs of Alfred Adler

2010-06-01T06:30:00.001-07:00

Six new photographs of Alfred Adler have been added to the Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapy web page at http://www.adlerian.us/.

Robot Marriage in Japan

2010-05-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

A news clip today stated that a couple in Japan was married by a robot. Hopefully, all will go well in this computer-related union. If there are difficulties, will the company that built the marriage ceremony robot also provide robot-oriented marriage counseling (similar to the early Eliza computer program)? If that doesn't work, will the company provide a robot-oriented divorce? Would that include a robot-judge and two robot-lawyers? It could get expensive, especially if the relationship gets into trouble after the warranty period, and they optimistically elected not to purchase an extended warranty contract.

Adlerian Use of Fiction in Psychotherapy

2010-05-15T08:27:00.001-07:00

"The Use of Fiction in Psychotherapy: A Contribution to Bibilotherapy," an article by Sofie Lazarsfeld, suggests that discussing a client's recently remembered books, or stories recalled from early childhood, may provide useful insight into the individual's style of life and unconscious, fictional goal. Also, having the client read selected books (as well as view films or TV shows), may elicit meaningful reactions. To read a preview of the article, go to www.Adlerian.us/fict-psy-preview.htm. The full article may be accessed through our new subscription site at www.Adlerian.us/subscription.htm.

Using Class Essays to Gain Adlerian Insight

2010-05-02T07:20:00.001-07:00

A remarkably effective diagnostic strategy used in the classroom by Anthony Bruck, an Adlerian Psychologist, was the assignment of four essays titled: "What I Want to be When I Grow Up," "Childhood Recollections," "A Dream I Had," and "My Family." In Chapter One of "Educating Children for Cooperation and Contribution - Volume II," Anthony offers four case illustrations that demonstrate the Adlerian insights that can be gained from this class assignment. A preview of one case illustration can be found at www.Adlerian.us/ecc-v2-preview.htm.

Videos of Alfred Adler & Audio Clip of Lydia Sicher

2010-04-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

Video clips of Alfred Adler speaking in English, as well as audio clips of Lydia Sicher and Anthony Bruck can now be accessed through our subscription site at www.Adlerian.us/subscription.htm. The first video is from an original newsreel clip of Alfred Adler, filmed by Fox Movietone News on June 17, 1929 in Vienna, Austria. The second video (date unknown) is probably from a German television broadcast. An audio clip of Lydia Sicher is from a series of lectures she gave in Los Angeles, California, between 1950-1961. Another audio clip of Anthony Bruck lecturing about children, was recorded in 1977 in San Rafael, California. These video and audio clips are hosted by the Alfred Adler Institute of Northwestern Washington website at http://www.adlerian.us/.

Transcription of Video - "Birth Order: Sense and Nonsense" - Interview by BBC-TV

2010-03-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

A transcription preview of a BBC-TV interview with Henry T. Stein, Ph.D. titled "Birth Order: Sense and Nonsense" is now available at www.Adlerian.us/birth-preview.htm. In this one-hour interview, several controversial issues are discussed: the value and limitations of Alfred Adler's birth order theory; the relevance of the family constellation in Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapy; and other significant influences on personality development. Dr. Stein evaluates the contributions of Frank Sulloway and Judith Harris, as well as the influences of Thomas Verney and Hugh Missildine. The full transcription may be accessed through our subscription site at www.Adlerian.us/subscription.htm .

New Transcription of "Training of a Classical Adlerian Psychotherapist"

2010-03-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

A preview of a new transcription of "Training of a Classical Adlerian Psychotherapist" is now available at www.Adlerian.us/train-th-preview.htm. In the full two-hour discussion between Sophia de Vries and Henry Stein, nearly 200 topics about Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapy (CADP) are covered. Sophia de Vries studied with Alfred Adler, Lydia Sicher, Alexander Mueller, Fritz Kunkel, Ida Loewy, Martha Holub, Rudolf Dreikurs, August Eichorn, Charlotte Buhler, Karl Buhler, Ludwig Klages, Karl Jung, Ernst Kretschmer, and Maria Montessori. Her profund psychological insights and her masterful adaptation of the Socratic method make this transcribed interview an essential introduction to our unique training offered in Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapy.

New Classical Adlerian Subscription Site

2010-03-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

A new subscription site for Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapy features an abundance of valuable, unique, resource material for mental health professionals, professors and students in the fields of psychology, counseling, and social work. The subscription site includes: 15 theme packs of complete articles on selected topics by Alfred Adler; 11 graphics that illustrate Adlerian constructs; and 4 transcriptions of therapy demonstrations and interviews. For a list of the site's contents, and information about subscribing, go to http://www.Adlerian.us/subscription.htm . Your contribution will help fund the ongoing Classical Adlerian Translation Project, dedicated to publishing the works of Classical Adlerians.

New Web Site Address

2010-02-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

The Classical Adlerian Psychology web site has a new, permanent address at http://www.adlerian.us/.

The Influence of Personality on Voting

2009-12-19T14:03:00.000-08:00

In the December 21st issue of Newsweek, an article "Red Mind, Blue MInd," by author Sharon Begley, refers to a study at the university of Illinois by researcher Chris Fraley, wherein he claims that the personality traits of voters seem to be the most influential factor in their voting decisions, more so than age or gender. It would appear that people tend to chose candidates who they perceive as being most like them. Perhaps installing mirrors in voting booths would improve voter turnout.

Reading on the Run - Kindle and Palm Tungsten

2009-12-14T07:18:00.000-08:00

Keeping up with many of the fascinating articles on the Internet, about two of my favorite recreational topics, The Socratric Method and Sherlock Holmes, is a challenging task. To faciliate portable versions of these articles, I generally follow this sequence. When I find a web page with content worth of study, I save it in Surfsaver, under an appropriate category. Opening the article in Surfsaver, I can then convert copies to .htm and .txt formats.

For Kindle compatibility, I send the .htm copy to Kindle.com for conversion to .azm format, which I then transfer to my Kindle. This permits reading, highlighting, and noting on the device. The highlights and notes can also be transferred back to my desktop computer.

For even greater (pocket) portability with the Palm Tungsten C, on my desktop I convert the .txt file to .pdb format using a free program DropBook. Then I transfer those files to the Pilot, reading highlighting, and noting the articles with eReader.

With added flash memory, The Kindle and Palm can hold thousands of articles and books. The Kindle is larger and can also download books, articles, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. The Pilot is smaller, but has a backlit screen for reading in low-light situations. Neither has the sensuous feel of a real book, but their portability and convenience are outstanding, especially when you are traveling or have some waiting time for an appointment.

Nearly a Century Later, Biology Catches Up With Alfred Adler

2009-12-01T17:51:00.000-08:00

From The New York Times, November 30, 2009

We May Be Born With an Urge to Help

What is the essence of human nature? Flawed, say many theologians. Vicious and addicted to warfare, wrote Hobbes. Selfish and in need of considerable improvement, think many parents.

But biologists are beginning to form a generally sunnier view of humankind. Their conclusions are derived in part from testing very young children, and partly from comparing human children with those of chimpanzees, hoping that the differences will point to what is distinctively human.

The somewhat surprising answer at which some biologists have arrived is that babies are innately sociable and helpful to others. Of course every animal must to some extent be selfish to survive. But the biologists also see in humans a natural willingness to help

(See http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/science/01human.html?em for complete article)

.It has taken biology nearly a century to catch up with Alfted Adler!

Adlerian Humor: Old Fashioned Meds

2009-11-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

Were jesters licensed?

Evolution: Theory, Fact, Dogma, or Fiction

2009-10-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

Nicholas Wade's review of "The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution," by Richard Dawkins, counterpoints the opposing dogmatic views of evolution as either fact or theory. An interesting alternative, would be to consider evolution as a useful scientific fiction, in the spirit of Hans Vaihinger, author of "The Philosphy of "As If"".

Review of "Educating Children for Cooperation & Contribution: Volume II"

2009-10-13T14:20:00.001-07:00

Erik Mansager and Jane Pfefferle have written a glowing review of
"Educating Children for Cooperation & Contribution: Volume II,"
highlighting the valuable insights, techniques, and graphics for
guiding children toward more positive choices. The review may be
found at http://home.att.net/~Adlerian/ecc-v2-review.htm.

Adler's View of Humans as Embedded in the Stream of Evolution

2009-09-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

For a humbling view of the human being's place in the vast panaorama of evolution, check the fascinating "Zoomable Tree" in "Thinking About Phylogienies" at http://besocratic.colorado.edu/phylogeny/Tree-index.html. After locating the "You are here" region, compare it to the rest of living forms. This graphic display adds a sobering perspective to Alfred Adler's view of human beings as "embedded in the stream of evolution."

Adlerian Humor: Creative Diagnosis

2009-09-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

Alway room for a new diagnostic category.

Finally, A Fully-Free Market

2009-09-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

Although Milton Friedman has recently acknowledged the erroneous assumptions of the free market philosophy, he was premature in his reversal, reflecting a not uncommon mirror image of erratic market tendencies. Had he waited a little longer, before his public confession of mistaken economic theory, he might have discovered that he had not gone far enough in his original direction. He came remarkably close to a super-theory of a "fully-free market" mentality

Rumblings in the woods suggest that a broader free market philosophy is peeking up from the horizon. "Cash for Clunkers" was a roaring success, tempting people into buying new cars that may eventually be repossessed like their abandoned sub-prime financed homes. Recently, a New Jersey school teacher improved student grades for a financial contribution, pocketing about $1,400 during one semester. Some New York City schools are paying children to stimulate academic performance. Finally, we are discovering the silver bullet of motivation: bribery.

I see unexplored possibilities for short-term solutions. Extending economic theory into education was a brilliant maneuver, paving the way for ground-breaking innovations to address previously unsolved problems in many arenas. Let us start brainstorming even further than we have in the past, using free market assumptions.

Consider the plight of many parents who cannot get their children to behave, even though they have read dozens of books on child guidance and attended scores of parent education workshops. The innovative "Cash for Compliance" strategy would establish a financial incentive scale for desired behaviors. For example: obeying a parental command immediately would earn a child $5.00 with a $3.00 bonus if the command is unquestioned, and a $2.00 bonus if it does not need to be repeated. For longer range plans, adopting parental advice about choice of friends would be worth about $10.00/month.

California is considering releasing thousands of people from prison, because keeping them in jail costs too much. Why not just pay them for not committing crimes? It might be too expensive to motivate them into becoming model citizens, but cost effective enough to reduce the overhead of law enforcement. If it costs $100,000 to investigate, arrest, convict, and incarcerate someone who stole $10,000, why not just meet them half-way and give them $5,000 and save $95,000 in overhead? Surely, some people will abuse this system by simply threatening to commit a crime in order to qualify for the benefit, but let's face it, no system is immune to exploitation.

Divorce is a often a costly, messy, adversarial experience that pours vast sums of money into law firms and ties up the courts interminably. The new "Dollars for Detente" would compensate people for staying in miserable relationships. A sliding scale could be devised for enduring indifference, rejection, depreciation, deceit, and betrayal. Even chronic anger and resentment could be reimbursed in an "earn while you burn" program. Women who no longer care about their husbands, but need more spendable income, could participate in the "Spitzer-Lysistrata" program. While sex for money is not a new idea, basing it in the home may avoid humilating prosecution and uncomfortable sexually transmitted diseases.

Insurance companies, eager to reduce even further their paltry reimbursements to mental health professionals, could eliminate them entirely by offering new incentives to their policy holders. A radical "Subsidizing Symptoms" program would either reduce insurance premiums drastically, or pay people directly for enduring their emotional distress, instead of seeing a therapist. Of course, this incentive may appeal primarily to masochists, who might even become wealthy in the process.

Having briefly explored the individual, couple, and family implications of a "fully-free market" approach to life, we would be negligent to omit the wider social application possible in government. Using California as a pilot program, the "Friedman-Madoff" plan might rescue Governor Swartzenegger and his Wild-West state from insolvency. The underappreciated and much maligned Ponzi scheme, although it has racked up a long line of victims, has not been applied on a large enough scale to prove or disprove its effectiveness as a short-term financial strategy. Utilizing the existing Lottery structure, Bernard Madoff could design a state-wide Ponzi scheme, after he is pardoned and assigned to 25 years of community service under the supervision of Milton Friedman.

You think I'm kidding?

Do CEO's Matter?

2009-08-31T10:47:00.000-07:00

In the June 2009 issue of The Atlantic, Harris Collingwood discusses the arguments on both sides of this issue, including the question "When does leadership matter?" His conclusion that "Good leaders can make small positive differences, bad leaders can make a huge negative difference," seems to fit the last eight years of U.S. government. However, Collingwood does not discuss or explain the remarkable industrial accomplishments of Ricardo Semler and his democratization of workplaces in Brazil.

Alfred Adler provided some inspiring thoughts about leadership in his article "Salvaging Mankind by Psychology," Chapter XXIV, in The Collected Clincial Works of Alfred Adler, Volume 5, Journal Articles 1921-1926.

Adlerian Humor: Shortcut to Self-Esteem

2009-08-28T13:49:00.001-07:00

Living the fantasy.

Playing With Adlerian Terms

2009-08-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

An interesting, playful way of exploring the meaning ranges of Adlerian terms is to use Lexipedia at www.lexipedia.com. Just enter terms like inferiority, superiority, goal, and fictional to see a visual map of synonyms and antonyms.

An Un-Adlerian City in the Lawless Wild West

2009-08-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine a city with a minimal feeling of community? According to Time Magazine's August 14th article on Las Vegas, "It is an entire city of Joh Dillingers, feeling guiltless for stealing from the banks." One real estate agent suggests that the greedy exploitation of others is what investing is all about, and that everyone is doing it. "It is very hard to suffer as the one honest person in a town of successful con artists."

Mind Mappping

2009-07-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

After exploring many mind mapping software programs, like MindManager, FreeMind, VisiMap, MindGenius, SmartDraw, and PersonalBrain, as well as concept mapping programs like C-Map, Compendium, Rationale, and Semantica, I recently discovered a very promising mind mapping program called XMind at http://www.xmind.net/. The free version does a lot and the upgraded pro version adds some sophistication. Easy to use, with a clean, appealing interface.

Alternate Web Site URL

2009-07-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

You may also reach our new web site at http://www.adlerian.us/.

New Web Site Address

2009-06-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

We have a new web site address for Classical Adlerian Psychology: http://home.att.net/~Adlerian/homepage.htm.

Kindly update any links so that they direct to the new URL address.

New Adlerian Publication: "Educating Children for Cooperation & Contribution"

2009-04-23T17:14:00.001-07:00

"Educating Children for Cooperation & Contribution," Volume II,contains exceptional, new child guidance resources for educators,therapists, and parents: "The Work of an Adlerian Psychologist in theSchools," Enlightening Children," and "Influencing the Child," byAnthony Bruck. Bruck, who was trained by Alfred Adler, embodiedseveral central qualities of his mentor: warmth, gentleness, andcreativity. His work with children was reminiscent of Adler'sremarkable ability to make immediate contact and win a child withrespect, simple insight, and infectious optimism. Like a kindly uncle,he guided children Socratically to make their own conclusions aboutnew ways to cross the bridge from misbehavior to cooperation.
Volume II also contains three articles by Alfred Adler: "Training forCourage," "Children's Life Tests," and "The Lazy Child;" and "TheChallenge of Kindergarten," by Theodore Grubbe.
To order Volume II , or for additional information, go to http://home.att.net/~Adlerian/ecc-v2.htm.
If you do not yet have Alfred Adler's seminal, child guidance texts,"Individual Psychology in the Schools," and "The Education ofChildren," you can also order "Educating Children for Cooperation &Contribution," Volume I at http://home.att.net/~Adlerian/ecc-v1.htm

Social Inclusion and the Democratic Character

2009-04-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

A new paper by Dr. Stein, "Social Inclusion and the Democratic Character" explores Alfred Adler’s ideal of the democratic character and the implications of this for social inclusion: for child rearing, education, and the work place. A “Levels of Functioning” chart investigates how a community of optimally functioning individuals would represent the antithesis of social exclusion. To read the paper, go to http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hstein/inclusion.htm.

Adlerian Humor: Private Logic

2009-03-24T13:25:00.001-07:00

Depreciation tendency for shoppers.

A New Era of Service

2009-03-22T14:34:00.001-07:00

President Barack Obama has called for a "A New Era of Service" in a Time Magazine article, dated March 10, 2009. He describes how through service, he found the direction he'd been seeking, discovering that his own story fit into a larger American story. This perception of contribution as a key to personal significance and security has deep roots in the psychology of Alfred Adler, who emphasized that a personal commitment to social contribution was a prerequisite for optimal mental health. It is not just the economic, educational, and medical fate of a nation that is at stake, but the psychological well-being of each of its' citizen. Too many greedy, socially indifferent, political and business leaders have set a national tone of justifying sociopathic policies and behavior. Perhaps President Obama will provide a new era of socially responsible, inspirational leadership by example.

Ponzi Schemes for the Masses

2009-02-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

According to Yale University economist Robert Shiller, author of "Irrational Exuberance," the housing and stock market bubbles were "naturally occurring" Ponzi schemes. Successive waves of investors generate gains for the last wave until the bubble bursts. "The essence of a Ponzi scheme is a story that justifies these enthusiasms," Shiller says, whether the phenomenon is Internet stocks or housing prices or Madoff. "The social feedback loop of other people making money causes people to suspend disbelief."

The seductive idea that one can make money without providing a useful product or service, by simply riding the wave of artificially inflated value, is a reflection of a socially exploitive, pampered style of life. The realization of profit without creating a real increase of value, relies on an endless river of gullible investors who assume that other gullible investors will follow them. In the housing market, each investor was willing to indulge the previous owner, believing that another naive buyer would indulge them. Home buyers, real estate agents, and lenders all grabbed what they could for themselves, indifferent to the impending fate of the "suckers" who came late to the party.

Bernard Madoff ran a Ponzi scheme on a monumental scale. Many stock and real estate investors ran their own small-scale versions of the same scam.

Adlerian Humor: Parenting Styles

2009-02-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the Second, third, fourth, or ...... child?

Don't Just Blow Away Smoke--Put Out the Fire!

2008-12-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

"Why Wall Street Always Blows It," by Henry Blodget, in the December 2008 issue of The Atlantic, side-steps the humility of personal responsibility, by proposing that "everyone" is to blame for the current financial disaster. The author takes refuge in the assumption of a natural and inevitable self-interest in all people, without contemplating the potential for overcoming that egocentricity. The root of the problem, as well as the solution, is not simply adjusting our economic habits by saving more and spending less, but breaking the psychological glass ceiling of self-interest and aspiring to a new philosophy of enlightened mutual-interest. The Wall Street dream of retiring at 40 reflects a larger American dream of making money without improving the common welfare.

Nearly a century ago, psychiatrist Alfred Adler pointed out that the only road to genuine security and significance for individuals and groups is through social contribution. If we look behind the obsessive accumulations of wealth, as well as the widespread desire for gaining wealth without contributing real social value, we often find the uncertainty of personal value hiding behind a facade of financial worth. After we blow away the financial smoke by implementing economic first aid, we could address the psychological root: encouraging people to transcend the archaic assumption of self-interest and pursue a higher purpose of mutual benefit through contribution. The deeper meaning of democracy is not merely the freedom to pursue personal gain, but to provide for the common good. Imagine a world where this value is reflected in relationships, families, schools, businesses, religious organizations, and government. For an amplification of this perspective, read "A Psychology for Democracy" at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hstein/iaip-6.htm.

Brief Therapy

2008-12-06T05:42:00.001-08:00

An innovative example of cost-effective, super-brief therapy, thanks to Bob Newhart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHeSKu0_LU

A Worthwhile Holiday Gift

2008-12-02T15:57:00.000-08:00

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has lauched their second yearly drive to provide many children in the world with a laptop, sponsored by governments, businesses, and individuals. You can either make a contribution of $199.00 and a laptop will be given to a child, or you can contribute $399.00 and also get one for yourself. The small, hardy units have an abundance of built-in programs for browsing the Internet, writing, drawing, composing music, and a built in video camera to make recordings. To place an order, go to http://amazon.com.xo or http://laptop.org/en/.

Adlerian Humor: Queen for a Day

2008-11-28T15:32:00.000-08:00

Intoxicating Power of a Fictional Final Goal

The Limits of Game Theory

2008-11-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

The December 1, 2008 issue of Newsweek includes a review, by Jeneen Interlandi, of a new book "Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game theory in Everyday Life," by physicist Len Fisher. He assumes that all individuals are fundamentally selfish, but that we can invent strategies for minimizing interpersonal havoc by negotiating cooperative resolutions that maximize each person's self-interest. The author seems not to be aware of the potential for a genuine and profound interest, as well as feeling, for the well-being of others. Mathematical and economic theories of human behavior may mistakenly attempt to support pessimistic and short-sighted views of human nature. "Research" often merely justifies the bias of the researcher.

New Training Analysts Added to Classical Adlerian Distance Training Program

2008-11-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

The Alfred Adler Institute of Northwestern Washington is proud to announce the addition of two new training analysts to its distance training program in Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapy.

Dyanne Pienkowski, M.A., a Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in Millbrae, California, combines over twenty years of training with Dr. Stein & Dr. de Vries, with exceptional knowledge and skill in substance abuse treatment. She has specialized in substance abuse treatment for over 35 years and is certified as a Master's Addiction Counselor (MAC). Co-director of the Alfred Adler Insititute of San Francisco, she offers on-site mentoring to anyone living in the Bay Area, or telephone mentoring to students located anywhere in the world. For more information about her background, go to http://home.att.net/~Adlerian/paths-dp.htm.

Martha Edwards, Ph.D. is the Founder and Director of the Center for the Developing Child and Family at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York City. Dr. Edwards brings over 20 years of Classical Adlerian study, first with Dr. Adele Davidson and then with Dr. Stein, to her therapy practice with individuals, couples and families, and to her students. She offers on-site mentoring in the New York City area as well as telephone mentoring to students located anywhere in the world. For more information about her background, go to http://home.att.net/~Adlerian/paths-me.htm.

Our unique mentor-oriented program provides the most comprehensive training in Alfred Adler's original theory and style of treatment. A personal mentor guides students through weekly study and telephone discussions. For additonal information about our Distance Training Program in Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapy, go to http://home.att.net/~Adlerian/dist-tra.htm. You may also contact Dr. Stein at (360) 647-5670 or via e-mail at htstein@att.net.

If you'd like to consider studying with us, please e-mail your Curriculum Vitae to Dr. Stein at htstein@att.net. We will then schedule a preliminary telephone interview to explore how our training might fit your professinal development. Your next step would be to take our short introductory course, DT101 - Basic Theory, to evaluate the mentoring experience before you engage in the complete Certification Program.

Worse Than Greed?

2008-10-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

Fixing our growing world-wide economic crisis will probably require tighter government oversight and regulation of financial practices. This "blowing away the smoke" approach is necessary, but perhaps not deep enough to "put out the fire." Economic theories and financial systems have certainly contributed to the widespread economic disasters, but the character and motives of the people managing large sums of money needs to be explored and understood if we wish to address the deeper roots of the problems. The popular buzz word explaining the psychology of Wall Street running wild and reckless is greed. Although this term seems accurate, it does not come close to describing the underlying psychopathology of many of the individuals or the devastating impact on large segments of society.

On December 12, 2004, the New York Times published an article by Michael Steinberger titled "Psychopathic CEO's," wherein he speculates on the motives of "lavishly compensated CEO's who cheat and lie," Relying on the research of Paul Babiak and Robert Hare, he suggests that many captains of industry are "sub-criminal psychopaths," not serial rapists or murderers, but smooth-talking, energetic, charming, manipulative, narcissistic, and ruthless. He emphasizes that the frenzied nature of modern business, constant down sizing, relentless merging and acquiring, provides a very fertile environment for havoc-wreaking psychopaths who thrive on chaos and risk-taking. As Hare put it in one interview, "If I couldn't study psychopaths in prison, I would go down to the Stock Exchange."

Three years layer, on December 19, 2007, FastCompany,com published "Is You Boss a Psychopath?" by Alan Deutschman. He describes a lecture that Hare gave in 2002 to 150 police and law enforcement officials, including a proposal that "recent corporate scandals (Enron and WorldCom) could have been prevented if CEO's were screened for psychopathic behavior." Hare claims that "We are worshipful of top executives who seem charismatic, visionary, and tough. So long as they are lifting profits and stock prices, we are willing to overlook that they can also be callous, conning, manipulative, deceitful,verbally and psychologically abusive, remorseless, exploitative, self-delusional, irresponsible, and megalomaniacal. So we collude in the elevation of leaders who are sadly insensitive to hurting others and society at large." Babiak elaborates by comparing the narcissist, who simply thinks only of himself, to a psychopath who enjoys hurting others.

Transposing Hare's and Babiak's assumptions from business and finance to government, it is appalling to contemplate the implications of people in positions of economic and political power who are possibly borderline psychopaths. When you add up the massive physical, mental, and economic suffering caused by war, torture, layoffs, depleted retirement investments, foreclosures, poverty, and insufficient medical care, a disturbing questions arises. Are these conditions intended by psychopaths in positions of economic and political power?

World's Funniest Joke?

2008-07-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

A UK psychiatrist has provided the world with its funniest joke, according to scientists. Gurpal Gosall, from Manchester, submitted the joke to the LaughLab experiment, conducted by a team at the University of Hertfordshire. The internet-based search for the best side-splitting gag is thought to have been the largest study of humour ever undertaken. Conducted by psychologist Dr Richard Wiseman, the study attracted more than 40,000 jokes.

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says: "Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK, now what?"

Adlerian Humor: Brief Parenting

2008-07-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

HMO style parenting.

Birth Order Audio Program Now Available in MP3 for iPod

2008-06-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

The extremely popular program, "Birth Order: Sense and Nonsense," originally released in DVD video format, is now available in a CD audio (MP3) format, and can be played on any computer or transferred to an iPod for convenient listening. For details and online ordering, go to http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hstein/birth-vcd.htm .
In this 60-minute interview, conducted by Mick Conefrey of the British Broadcasting Company, Dr. Stein offers a candid perspective on the value, application, and limits of birth order theory, including the contributions of Alfred Adler, Frank Sulloway, Judith Harris, Margarite Goertzel, Hugh Missildine, and Thomas Verney.

The Impact of Technology on Thinking

2008-06-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

In the July/August issue of The Atlantic, author Nicholas Carr discusses the effect of technology on our thinking process in his article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?." Tracing the developments of oral history, writing, the printing press, typewriters, computers, and the Internet, he speculates on the impact of the various mediums of writing and reading. I resonated with many of his comments. Although I find many interesting articles though Google searches, if they contain any significant depth and require deep study, I find it difficult to focus on the material on computer screen, I have to print it out, highlight important passages, and make marginal notes in pencil. When taking notes during session with a client or when conducting case consultations, I find it best to take my notes with a favorite fountain pen, a well balanced Pilot Nakmiki (retractable, very fine point), using dense, black ink, on smooth, green tinted, wide-margin paper. The aesthetic pleasure of writing with this beautiful instrument, cannot be achieved with any ballpoint or fiber-tipped pen I've tried. I can do an abundance of searching on the Internet, and find it fascinating to organize and brainstorm material using outliners like Ecco Pro and graphics programs like Edge Diagrammer, but when it comes to the homestretch of in-depth study, a good pen or pencil on paper seems to be more appealing. Also, the popular fascination with speed, seems to minimize the relevance of affect--subtle feelings often take time to digest.

Adlerian Humor: Pathways to Superiority

2008-06-07T17:14:00.001-07:00

Symptom competition.

Windows, Mac, & Linux (Ubuntu)

2008-06-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

I'm a long time Windows OS user, and at the urging of an associate, I bought a Mac laptop about a year ago. It took a while to adjust to the new format, but I began to appreciate the clean, coherent interface. Out of curiosity, I also tried the Knoppix version of Linux, running it solely from a CD--interesting, but not compelling. However, I just discovered the Unbuntu version of Linux and installed it on my old Pentium III laptop, leaving Windows in one partition. To my surprise and delight, Ubuntu is a lovely interface. Getting adjusted to Linux has taken some patience, but the prospect of a totally free OS and an abundance of free applications is hard to resist. I've also discovered a small, helpful group of users on an Ubuntu forum who generously provide guidance to the beginner. With the exception of a few favorite applications like Ecco Pro, and Edge Diagrammer, I've been able to find plenty of Linux versions of applications like OpenOffice, Skype, and C-Map. The built-in browser and email program work just fine. Give Ubuntu a try--its a refreshing newcomer, and you can't beat the price.

Adlerian Humor: Atypical Royalty Disorder

2008-06-04T06:46:00.001-07:00

Generic jesters don't always work.

Theater's Tendency to Promote Empathy

2008-06-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

A recent review, in "The New York Times Book Review" (6/1/08) of Paul Woodruff's new book, The Art of Watching and Being Watched, suggests that an individual's capacity for empathy is a good index of his mental health. Woodruff proposes that theater has a tendency to promote empathy: "We must all listen to each other because we are human, because we see only what we can from where we stand, because there is more to be seen than any one of us can appreciate alone." Alfred Adler often described great art as the artistic expression of empathy.

Adlerian Humor: Purpose of Emotion

2008-05-22T21:58:00.000-07:00

Holding a symptom in reserve.

Kindle E-Book Reader Versions of Selected Adlerian Publications

2008-05-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

If you have the new Amazon Kindle E-Book reader, several volumes of "The Collected Clinlcal Works of Alfred Adler," as well as other books and articles are now available at the Amazon Kindle Store http://www.amazon.com/ . At the search box, select "Kindle Store," then enter "Classical Adlerian" and press "go." You can then select from the displayed list and then have the publication delivered to your Kindle within minutes.

For additional information about the publications currently being offered in the Kindle format, go to the AAISF Kindle Page. This is a wonderfully convenient way to carry and study Adler's writings. The Kindle E-Book reader permits highlighting, bookmarking, and recording notes.

Adlerian Humor: Early Self Help Groups

2008-03-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

An affordable alternative to managed care.

Birth Order is Not Always Influential

2008-02-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

In an interview about football quaterback Eli Manning with James Varney, a staff writer for the Time-Picayune in New Orleans, Dr. Stein pointed out that birth order was probably not a prime influence in the football player's family of two older, football-playing brothers. An excellent, encouraging relationship with his mother, as well as an early struggle with reading diffculties may have largely contributed to his development. Dr. Stein also clarified the distinction between positive and negative competition. To read the article, go to http://www.nola.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/sports-1/1202020289295070.xml&coll=1

Adler's Reference to Henri Bergson

2008-02-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

On page 203 of The Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler,Volume 1 - The Neurotic Character, Adler refers to Henri Bergson's concept of "identicality of every movement in life." I suspect the idea appears in Bergson's 1907 work [em]Creative Evolution[/em]. Does anyone have access to Bergson's comments on this topic? Adler's remarks are below.

In our type of the psychology of neuroses one always gets the impression that the neurotic gesture that one observes is pointing straight to the final purpose, to the fictional final goal, as if one were examining one of the middle pictures in some cinematographic film. The problem consists in recognizing these gestures, that is, the symptoms, predispositions and characteristics, and to come to understand what is their objective. In every neurotic attitude the beginning and the final goal are suggestively concealed

Bergson correctly emphasizes the identicality of every movement in life. With sufficient knowledge and enough experience one may discern the past, the present and the future, but the final goal as well, of any psychic phenomenon. And thus every psychic phenomenon, and indeed every characteristic, in a similar way as an inferior physical organ, can be viewed as a symbol of an individual life, as an individual attempt to climb up.

Workshop August 22-24: Experiencing Classical Adlerian Psychotherapy

2008-01-31T18:07:00.000-08:00

Workshop August 22-24, 2008, in Bellingham, WA
Experiencing Classical Adlerian Psychotherapy

This three-day workshop provides an opportunity to observe,experience, practice, and receive feedback from peers and seasonedprofessionals on Classical Adlerian therapeutic techniques.Participants are encouraged to bring a personal issue to work on. (The workshop is for individuals who are currently enrolled in, or have completed our full distance-training program.) For completeinformation visit http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hstein/sum08.htm.

Adlerian Humor: Metaphors

2007-11-29T07:20:00.001-08:00

Crossing the river of private logic.

Capitalism With a Heart

2007-09-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

"This is Not Charity," by Jonathan Rouch, in the October 2007 issue of the Atlantic, describes the emerging movement of "social entrepreneurship, a dynamic process of using entrepreneurial methods and market mechanisms to solve social problems. Fueled by the enthusiasm and skill of Bill Clinton, Ira Magaziner, and a team of management consultants, they are creating new markets and reinventing philanthropy. To date, successful innovations in micro lending and affordable medicine have sparked projects targeting global warming. Rather than relying on the often slowing moving traditional philanthropy, entrepreneurial philanthropy attempts to create profit-making, sustainable projects that can eventually grow on their own.

Adlerian Humor: Understanding Childrens Goals

2007-07-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

The ultimate revenge!

Adlerian Humor:Consequences of Parenting Styles

2007-07-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

Divine-right-of-kings Complex.

2007-07-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

Adlerian Humor:
Earliest Memories

Adlerian Humor: Equality

2007-06-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

Ultra Non-Directive Psychotherapy

How Doctors Think

2007-06-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

In his new book How Doctors Think, Jerome Groopman critiques contemporary medical education and training. He states that doctors are leaning toward research and statistical evidence, instead of experience and expert opinion, out of laziness and misplaced deference to authority. Consequently, the principle of "evidence before acting" will lead to physicians who stop thinking, stop evaluating each patient as a unique human being, and stop applying their knowledge to the peculiarities of the person before them. Many "bean-counter" doctors recommend treatments that are seemingly supported by statistics but may not be appropriate for the person they are facing. Groopman urges doctors to become more conscious of their own feelings, emotions, responses, and choices, and to promote a greater collaboration with patients.

Groopman also suggests that the values, attitudes, and behavior of a doctor matter far more than the reputation of the institution at which he or she works. He also cautions doctors about the reliance on electronic decision aids, which might actually encourage more mistakes, by distracting the physician away form what should be his primary focus: the patients' own story. Accurate diagnosis requires an investment of time to listen, observe, and think. Groopman's repeated encouragement to the doctor is: "slow down."

There are significant parallels in the field of psychotherapy with the emerging pressure from insurance companies for "evidence-based" practice. The claim that a specific type of psychotherapy should be authorized for a class of symptoms, ignores the uniqueness of the client as well as the character and skill of the specific psychotherapist.

Generation Me: Increase in Narcisssism

2007-06-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

The July/August issue of The Atlantic cites a new study claiming that today's children are far more self-centered than preceding generations. The researchers argue that this growing group of narcissists will have trouble forming meaningful relationships, tend to be materialistic, and are prone to higher levels of infidelity, substance abuse, and violence.

The university researchers are confirming what Adler stated seventy years ago about pampered and neglected children.

Adlerian Humor: Socratic Questioning

2007-06-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

Consequences of excessive self-protection.

"Alfred Adler's Legacy: Past, Present, & Future" - Dr. Stein's Ansbacher Lecture

2007-06-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

Dr Stein's provocative and inspiring Ansbacher Lecture, "Adler's Legacy: Past Present & Future." delivered at the NASAP 2007 Conference in Vancouver, B.C., is now available to listen to or read at http://go.ourworld.nu/hstein/adlers-legacy.htm.

Dr. Stein emphasizes the importance of returning to Alfred Adler's original teachings and style of treatment, the need for congruence in therapists and trainers, the relevance of a personal study-analysis, and the role of Classical Adlerian depth psychotherapy in the future of Individual Psychology.

The audio version includes: an introduction by Dr. Erik Mansager; Dr. Stein's one-hour lecture; and a fifteen-minute question and answer period. The transcribed text is a slightly modified version of the lecture.

(Instructions for downloading the audio file have been corrected on 6-21-07. The process should now work easily.)

Adlerian Humor: Depreciation Tendency

2007-05-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Affordable, innovative symptom relief.

Adlerian Humor: Encouragement

2007-05-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

VERY Brief Therapy!

The "Dangerous Corner" of War

2007-05-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

In his overview of "dangerous corners" in child development (Volume 12, Chapter 4, of The Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler), Adler warns us about the corrosive psychological influences of parental pampering and neglect, but he also emphasizes three social influences that seriously inhibit the development of social interest in children as well as adults: war, capital punishment, and racial prejudice. The media may focus on gun control, mental illness of killers, or violent video games, but little attention is paid to the daily impact of killing for imperial purpose. Given the appropriate political or legal justification, murder can be framed as heroic or justified punishment. Do we know or care how a young child digests the impression that it is OK for the state to take another's life? Surely, this does not foster an increase in the feeling of community and an interest in the welfare of all of mankind. Our actions may suggest to children that it is acceptable to destroy any designated enemy.

Adlerian Humor: Parenting Attitudes

2007-04-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

Hazards of a Royalty Complex

Freedom, Imagination, and Creativity

2007-04-27T06:33:00.000-07:00

In his article (April 27, 2007, New York Times), "China Needs an Einstein. So Do We," Thomas Friedman raises the questions about the relationship of freedom and creativity. Referring to Walter Isaacson's new biography of Albert Einstein, Einstein: His Life and Universe, Friedman speculates on Einstein's comment about the importance of imagination over knowledge. Einstein also thought that the freest society with the most rebellious thinking would be the most creative. Certainly, a shift in educational focus would probably contribute to fostering creativity and innovation in future scientists and mathematicians. However, another important, personal factor needs to be considered. As Alfred Adler pointed out, the psychological restriction of a style of life also inhibits creativity. Dissolving that style of life through depth psychotherapy can re-awaken and stimulate the creative power of an individual. Abraham Maslow affirmed this perspective in his writings about creativity. An entire culture may be oppressed by a totalitarian government, but an individual may also be trapped within the confines of an imperious style of life and fictional final goal.

Killers and Narcissism

2007-04-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

In "Its All About Him" (April 10, 2007 issue of Time Magazine), David von Drehle addresses the issue of narcissism in killers. He challenges other theories that emphasize the influences of culture, guns, musical lyrics, or films, and highlights the common denominator in most killers: extreme self-centeredness. He elaborates by listing the other common traits of narcissists: grandiosity, numbness to the needs and pain of others, emotional isolation, resentment, and envy. Although Drehle does not mention Adler, the implications of a profound absence of social interest are evident in the article. As Adler pointed out, the roots of this problem can be identified in early childhood by teachers who are well-trained in Individual Psychology. Rather than spending a fortune on building bigger prisons, we could invest in prevention at the level of early childhood education. Alfred Adler, Oscar Spiel, and Frederick Birnbaum showed what could be achieved in the Vienna schools in the 1920's and 1930's.

Adlerian Humor: Confidentiality

2007-04-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

A Super-Superiority Complex

Human Rights and Equality

2007-04-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

Two recent reviews ("Natural, Equal, Universal" by Gordon Wood, N.Y. Times Book Review, 4/8/07, and "Sentimental Education: The Invention of Human Rights," by Joanna Burke, Harpers Magazine, May 2007) of "Inventing Human Rights: A History," by Lynn Hunt, trace the evolution of human rights, from its proclamations in America in 1776 and France in 1789, to the twentieth-century term "empathy." The author's thesis that human rights require three interlocking qualities: rights must be natural (inherent in human beings), equal (the same for everyone), and universal (applicable everywhere) echoes Adler's vision of the evolution social equality and Gemeinschaftsgefeuhl.

Adlerian Humor: Family Therapy

2007-04-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

Extended-Family Therapy

Adlerian Humor: Unconsicous

2007-04-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

Really unconscious!

Adlerian Humor: The Inferiority Complex

2007-04-03T16:22:00.000-07:00

A depiction of the Inferiorty Complex by cartoonist William Steig.

Adlerian Humor: Norms & Ideals

2007-04-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

"The way we were?"

Adlerian Humor: Office Furnishings

2007-03-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

Another reason that Adlerians don't use a couch.

Adlerian Humor: Unity and Diversity of Disorders

2007-02-26T11:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, but just bear-ly.

Adlerian Humor: Feeling of Community

2007-02-12T06:17:00.000-08:00

Radius of Social Interest.

An Ultimate Test of Social Interest

2007-02-04T13:05:00.000-08:00

I heartily recommend a fascinating, inspiring movie about a small group of students in germany who actively resisted Hitler's pathological political path. Don't miss the film "Sophie Sholl: The Final Days," a remarkable study of courage, conviction, and compassion. View the trailer at http://www.sophieschollmovie.com/.

You can also read more about "The White Rose," at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rose, the student group that did what they could to open the eyes of the German people.Many of their pamphlets, distributed between 1942-1943, seem sharply relevant today.

Adlerian Humor: Childhood Prototype

2007-01-23T13:54:00.000-08:00

Stages of non-development.