What Is Alfred Adler’s Theory of Personality?

When it comes to wrestling, I’ve decided that someday I’ll attend some cultural anthropology lectures or even start studying that field because it’s incredibly fascinating.

But today, I want to dive into personality theories, focusing on one of them. This isn’t about elections or anything like that. I just want to share details about the third most popular personality theory in psychology, in addition to the well-known Freudian and Jungian theories.

How Do Freud, Jung and Adler Differ?

Just a quick reminder: Freud proposed that the human psyche consists of the id, which represents basic instincts. The ego, responsible for reason and personality; and the superego, embodying higher aspirations and ideals. He also introduced libido (sexual drive) and Thanatos (death drive) as key human motivations.

Jung, on the other hand, saw humans as part of a larger system and identified various elements within the psyche, including the persona (social personality), anima and animus (male and female aspects of the soul), and individual and collective unconscious. The drive to balance inner and outer worlds, shaped by fear and desire, influences human behavior.

However, I’m more drawn to the third theory, which isn’t as widely followed but feels closer to the truth: Alfred Adler’s theory. Adler, like Freud, was Austrian and even worked with him. But he eventually moved away from the idea of sexual drive dominance and developed his own theory.

He believed the primary human drive is the pursuit of power and gaining an advantage over others. According to Anderson, Hildreth, and Howland (2015), a large body of empirical research supports status-seeking as a fundamental human motive found across cultures and social contexts. This compensates for the inferiority complex that comes from recognizing one’s own shortcomings.

According to Adler, the inferiority complex can be beneficial as it drives personal growth, whereas failing to compensate can lead to mental health issues.

His theory centers on two main life goals. The first is community, achieved through social connection. The second is intelligence, meaning gaining an edge over others.

Why Do People Sacrifice So Much to Win?

Looking at life, it’s likely that even those with strong libidos aren’t just trying to satisfy them. Often, the real goal is to boost self-confidence, gain an edge, and overcome complexes. Many people thrive on acquiring power, showing little interest in relationships.

Athletes also exemplify this—many sacrifice their youth and well-being for competition. According to Gould and Whitley (2009), elite athletes face burnout from training load, scrutiny, and isolation. Why?

To win, even though the payoff in most sports is often less than a good education and stable job. Nobody ever gets called the world’s greatest bureaucrat, while accolades can be given to top cyclists, shooters, or swimmers. Even workaholism comes from this same drive.

According to Ng, Sorensen, and Feldman (2007), workaholism is often driven by internal achievement and status motives rather than external financial necessity. Biologically, working more than needed is wasteful; nature’s goal is reproduction. Yet people want to excel in their daily work.

That’s why I’ve always believed that to truly please or help someone, you should recognize their strengths and affirm their achievements in those areas. Even if it’s in crocheting or running backward, acknowledging their success is better than just complimenting their appearance or hoping luck will sort things out. According to Mueller and Dweck (1998), praising effort sustains motivation far better than praising traits.

What Happened When My PhD Application Got Rejected?

By the way, my PhD application got rejected. True, the professor I wanted to work with encourages me to reapply, but I’ll take some time to reconsider. Maybe there’s something more exciting out there than diving into theories.

The world is vast and beautiful. The idea of tracing my finger across a map and picking any spot is appealing. For years, I’ve felt disconnected from this city, and now might be the time to break free.

What about Denmark? Or maybe New Zealand or Alaska.

What Did High School Teach Me About Paving My Own Path?

I knew this application wouldn’t be easy. They never are. My journey to MISMaP had its share of bumps too.

Reflecting on those times now is amusing, but back then, it was quite a journey. I can share a bit of that story here, as it’s something I’m still proud of from my high school days.

Here’s the thing: transitioning from elementary to high school, I moved from Katowice to Bielsko. Unfortunately, due to a poor interview, I ended up in the wrong school. I have no complaints about my friends there; I still cherish those friendships and memories.

However, the education quality was lacking, and I knew if things didn’t change, I wouldn’t find a proper study path. High School No. 5 in Bielsko-Biała was the only strong math option nearby, but it had limited spots.

You couldn’t just enroll. So, I asked my parents to let me return to Katowice, where a well-regarded math class was available at High School No. 8, and where my father still lived.

My parents were firm and preferred their own plans, and that’s where things got interesting. To stand my ground, I went on a hunger strike. My parents stuck to their views, so it took about a year of persistence before they finally gave in.

How Did I Make It Back to Katowice?

Back then, I was about 25 kg lighter and not looking very healthy. During a medical exam, the doctor was visibly concerned and quickly left the room. Eventually, my parents gave in to my demands.

I returned to Katowice in the middle of my third year of high school, switched schools to High School No. 8, and within a year, I progressed so much that I participated in the Mathematics Olympiad (although I was eliminated just before the finals).

I went on to take second place out of 380 participants during the MISMaP entrance exams in Warsaw. Long story short, dreams do come true; you just need to be daring enough to pursue them.

And today, even though I believe MISMaP had its tough and less productive moments, if I had to choose again, I’d make the same choice. Notably, without MISMaP, I might not have considered the paths I’m now exploring. There’s no such thing as a bad experience.