Unlike Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler believed that:
Group of answer choices
- people are motivated mostly by social influences and by their striving for superiority and success.
- people have little or no choice in shaping their personality.
- present behavior is caused by past experiences.
- psychologically healthy people are usually unaware of what they are doing and why they are doing it.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
people are motivated mostly by social influences and by their striving for superiority and success.
Explanation :
Alfred Adler, a contemporary of Sigmund Freud, developed a psychological theory that significantly diverged from Freud’s psychoanalytic model. While Freud emphasized the influence of unconscious drives—particularly sexual and aggressive instincts—on human behavior, Adler proposed that social factors and conscious goals play a much more central role in personality development.
Adler believed that human beings are primarily motivated by a drive to overcome feelings of inferiority, which he termed the “inferiority complex.” From early childhood, individuals recognize their limitations and weaknesses, which creates a sense of inadequacy. In response, they strive for superiority and success—not in a selfish or domineering way, but as a means of achieving personal growth and social contribution. This striving, according to Adler, is the core motivation behind human behavior.
Unlike Freud, who viewed human personality as largely shaped by past traumas and unconscious conflicts, Adler emphasized the importance of future goals and conscious decision-making. He argued that individuals are not passive products of their pasts but active agents who can shape their destinies through purposeful behavior.
Adler also highlighted the importance of social interest—a sense of belonging and contributing to society—as a sign of psychological health. In his view, healthy individuals strive not only for personal success but also for the betterment of others and the community. This reflects Adler’s belief that people are inherently social beings.
In summary, Adler’s theory stands in contrast to Freud’s by focusing on social influences, conscious striving for goals, and a more optimistic view of human nature. Rather than being driven by unconscious sexual urges, Adler saw people as motivated by a desire to overcome inferiority and to achieve success through meaningful social engagement.
