Alfred Adler was an Austrian psychotherapist born in 1870 who received his medical degree from the University of Vienna. He was one of the founding members of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society and developed his theory of individual psychology. Some key aspects of his biography included his childhood illnesses influencing his decision to become a doctor, his early career focusing on social reform, and developing his theory which emphasized social interest and compassion as important human motivations. The document also discusses Adler's theories on birth order characteristics and the potential personalities and situations of children in different birth order positions like only children, oldest children, and middle children.

1. BIOGRAPHY OF
ALFRED ADLER
psychotherapist

2. INTRODUCTION

3. INTRODUCTION
• Alfred Adler was born in Vienna in 1870 of a
middle class family and died in Aberdeen,
Scotland in 1937 while on a lecture tour.
• He received a medical degree in 1895 from the
University of Vienna. At first he specialised in
Ophthalmology and then, after a period of
practice in general medicine, he became a
psychiatrist.
• He was one of the charter members of the
Vienna psychoanalytic society and later its
president.

4. EARLY CHILDHOOD
* Borne on 7 February 1870 in
Rudolfsheim in a village near
Vienna, Austria
He was the second of seven
children of a Hungarian-born grain
merchant.
The Adlers were a musical family
and Alfred was known for his
singing voice.

5. Early childhood
• Although he was encouraged to pursue a
career in Opera, in his childhood he suffered
some illnesses and the death of a younger
brother.
• These experiences contributed greatly to his
early decision to become a physician or
medical doctor.

6. CAREER AND MARRIAGE
• Adler’s early career was
marked by enthusiasm for
social reform, often expressed
in articles in socialist
newspapers.
• Later he married Raissa
Epstein, a Russian student.

7. CAREER
His first professional publication was social-medical
monograph (pamphlet) on the health
of tailors.
In 1902, famed Austrian psychiatrist, Sigmund
Freud invited Adler to join a small discussion
group, which became the famous Vienna
Psychoanalytic society.

8. FAMILY
* Father – Leopold– a middle-class Jewish grain
merchant from Hungary
* Mother – Pauline – a hardworking homemaker
* Second born of eight children
* Was weak and sick during the first 5 years of his life

9. DEVELOPMENT OF HIS THEORY – HIS
WORKS
* Published his most important work, “The
Neurotic Constitution” in 1912
* His experience of World War I led him to
develop that social interest & compassion could
be the cornerstones of human motivation

10. DEVELOPMENT OF HIS THEORY – HIS
WORKS
• Taught individual psychology at various
universities, also as resident and visiting
Professor for Medical Psychology
• Became America’s first popular
psychologist

11. Adler’s Theory of Birth Order
Characteristics

12. THEORY OF BIRTH ORDER
• ONLY CHILD
• OLDEST CHILD
• SECOND CHILD
• MIDDLE CHILD
• YOUNGEST CHILD
• TWIN CHILD
• GHOST CHILD
• ADOPTED CHILD
• WE ARE GOING TO KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THEM

13. ONLY CHILD
• Family Situation
– Birth is a miracle
– Parents have no previous experience
– Retains 200% attention from both parents
– May become rival of one parent
– Can be over-protected and spoiled
• Child’s Characteristics
– Likes being the center of adult attention
– Often has difficulty sharing with siblings and peers
– Prefers adult company and uses adult language

14. OLDEST CHILD
• psychologistFamily Situation
• Dethroned by next child
• Has to learn to share
• Parent expectations are usually very high
• Often given responsibility and expected to set an example
• Child’s Characteristics
• May become authoritarian or strict
• Feels power is his right
• Can become helpful if encouraged
• May turn to father after birth of next child

15. SECOND CHILD
• Family Situation
– He has a pacemaker
– There is always someone ahead
• Child’s Characteristics
– Is more competitive, wants to overtake older child
– May become a rebel or try to outdo everyone
– Competition can deteriorate into rivalry

16. MIDDLE CHILD
• Family Situation
– Is “sandwiched” in
– May feel squeezed out of a position of privilege and
significance
• Child’s Characteristics
– May be even-tempered, “take it or leave it” attitude
– May have trouble finding a place or become a fighter of
injustice

17. THANK YOU