Chapter 3    Adler: Individual Psychology89
Safeguarding Tendencies
Adler believed that people create patterns of behavior to protect their exagger -
ated sense of self-esteem against public disgrace. These protective devices, called 
 safeguarding tendencies,  enable people to hide their inflated self-image and to main -
tain their current style of life.
Adler’s concept of safeguarding tendencies can be compared to Freud’s con -
cept of defense mechanisms. Basic to both is the idea that symptoms are formed as a 
protection against anxiety. However, there are important differences between the two 
concepts. Freudian defense mechanisms operate unconsciously to protect the ego 
against anxiety, whereas Adlerian safeguarding tendencies are largely conscious and 
shield a person’s fragile self-esteem from public disgrace. Also, Freud’s defense mech -
anisms are common to everyone, but Adler (1956) discussed safeguarding tendencies 
only with reference to the construction of neurotic symptoms. Excuses, aggression, 
and withdrawal are the three common safeguarding tendencies, each designed to pro -
tect a person’s present style of life and to maintain a fictional, elevated feeling of self-
importance (Adler, 1964).
Excuses
The most common of the safeguarding tendencies are excuses,  which are typically 
expressed in the “Yes, but” or “If only” format. In the “Yes, but” excuse, people first 
state what they claim they would like to do—something that sounds good to others—
then they follow with an excuse. A woman might say, “Yes, I would like to go to 
college, but my children demand too much of my attention.” An executive explains, 
“Yes, I agree with your proposal, but company policy will not allow it.”
The “If only” statement is the same excuse phrased in a different way. “ If only  
my husband were more supportive, I would have advanced faster in my profession.” 
“If only  I did not have this physical deficiency, I could compete successfully for 
a job.” These excuses protect a weak—but artificially inflated—sense of self-worth 
and deceive people into believing that they are more superior than they really are 
(Adler, 1956).
Aggression
Another common safeguarding tendency is aggression.  Adler (1956) held that some 
people use aggression to safeguard their exaggerated superiority complex, that is, to 
protect their fragile self-esteem. Safeguarding through aggression may take the form 
of depreciation, accusation, or self-accusation.
Depreciation  is the tendency to undervalue other people’s achievements and to 
overvalue one’s own. This safeguarding tendency is evident in such aggressive behav -
iors as criticism and gossip. “The only reason Kenneth got the job I applied for is 
because he is an African American.” “If you look closely, you’ll notice that Jill works 
hardest at avoiding work.” The intention behind each act of depreciation is to belittle 
another so that the person, by comparison, will be placed in a favorable light.
Accusation,  the second form of an aggressive safeguarding device, is the tendency 
to blame others for one’s failures and to seek revenge, thereby safeguarding one’s own 
tenuous self-esteem. “I wanted to be an artist, but my parents forced me to go to medi -
cal school. Now I have a job that makes me miserable.” Adler (1956) believed that 
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