The Psychoanalytic Debate: Erikson and Adler

Erik Erikson's journey into psychoanalysis began with Anna Freud's encouragement, while Alfred Adler's theory on birth order remains a topic of debate in the field of psychology. Despite popular attention, research has not conclusively confirmed Adler's hypotheses about birth order.

Adler believed that our birth order shapes our personality and proposed three fundamental social tasks: occupational tasks (careers), societal tasks (friendship), and love tasks (finding an intimate partner for a long-term relationship). Unlike Freud, who focused on sexual or aggressive motives for behavior, Adler emphasized conscious rather than unconscious motivation. He believed that the three fundamental social tasks are explicitly known and pursued.

Erikson received his diploma from the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute in 1933 and fled to the United States as Nazism spread across Europe. His encounter with Anna Freud led him to study psychoanalysis. In contrast, Adler's theory on birth order remains a topic of debate, despite its popularity.

Adler also believed in the importance of social connections, seeing childhood development emerging through social development rather than the sexual stages proposed by Freud. He noted the inter-relatedness of humanity and the need to work together for the betterment of all. Erikson, on the other hand, emphasized conscious processes over unconscious ones, focusing on social motives instead.

In his book 'What Life Should Mean to You,' Adler wrote, 'The happiness of mankind lies in working together, in living as if each individual had set himself the task of contributing to the common welfare' (Adler, 1964). This quote highlights his emphasis on the importance of social connections and cooperation. He also proposed the concept of the inferiority complex, which remains a significant aspect of his theory.

In conclusion, while both Erikson and Adler were influential figures in the field of psychology, their approaches to psychoanalysis differed significantly. Erikson's work focused more on conscious processes, emphasizing social motives and inter-relatedness, whereas Adler's theories centered around birth order and social connections. Their contrasting views have contributed to the rich tapestry of psychological thought, shaping our understanding of human behavior and development.

Psychoanalysis of freud and adler