Strivings for superiority is defined by Alfred Adler as mechanisms to overcome feelings of inferiority.
Adler began to see each individual as having a feeling of inferiority. Adler
wrote, "To be a human being means to feel oneself inferior. The child comes into the world as a helpless little creature surrounded by powerful adults. A child is motivated by his feelings of inferiority to "strive" for greater things. When he has reached one level of development, he begins to feel inferior once more and the "striving for something better" begins again which is the great driving force of mankind. These feelings of inferiority lead to a "striving for superiority". The striving for superiority is innate and carries individuals from one stage to the next. This striving can and does manifest itself in many different ways and each person has his own way of attempting to achieve perfection.
Related Articles | |
| Preoperation at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■■ |
Preoperational thinking is a term used in developmental psychology to describe the cognitive stage that . . . Read More | |
| Negative reinforcement trap at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
Negative reinforcement trap means unwittingly reinforcing a behavior you want to discourage The negative . . . Read More | |
| Penance at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
In the realm of psychology, penance refers to a psychological concept often associated with feelings . . . Read More | |
| Totality at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
Totality: In psychology, totality refers to the idea that human beings are complex, holistic entities, . . . Read More | |
| Propagation at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
Propagation in the Psychology Context:Propagation, in the context of psychology, refers to the spreading . . . Read More | |
| Misattribution at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
Misattribution in the psychology context refers to the incorrect attribution of the source, cause, or . . . Read More | |
| Anxiety-Related Agitation at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
Anxiety-Related Agitation in the context of psychology refers to a state of nervousness and restlessness . . . Read More | |
| Death at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
The concept of "death" refers to the end of life or the cessation of biological functions. The experience . . . Read More | |
| Phenomena at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
Phenomena in the context of psychology refer to observable events, occurrences, or experiences that can . . . Read More | |
| Regression at psychology-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
Regression refers to the reversion to an earlier stage of development in the face of unacceptable impulses. . . . Read More | |