Chapter 3    Adler: Individual Psychology85
this charity is proof of my superiority.” Adler believed that the worth of all such acts 
can only be judged against the criterion of social interest.
In summary, people begin life with a basic striving force that is activated 
by ever-present physical deficiencies. These organic weaknesses lead inevitably to 
feelings of inferiority. Thus, all people possess feelings of inferiority, and all set a 
final goal at around age 4 or 5. However, psychologically unhealthy individuals 
develop exaggerated feelings of inferiority and attempt to compensate by setting 
a goal of personal superiority. They are motivated by personal gain rather than by 
social interest, whereas healthy people are motivated by normal feelings of incom -
pleteness and high levels of social interest. They strive toward the goal of success, 
defined in terms of perfection and completion for everyone. Figure 3.1 illustrates 
how the innate striving force combines with inevitable physical deficiencies to pro -
duce universal feelings of inferiority, which can be either exaggerated or normal. 
Exaggerated feelings of inferiority lead to a neurotic style of life, whereas normal 
feelings of incompletion result in a healthy style of life. Whether a person forms a 
useless style of life or a socially useful one depends on how that person views these 
inevitable feelings of inferiority.
Style of Life
Adler’s fifth tenet is: The self-consistent personality structure develops into a person’s 
style of life.
Style of life  is the term Adler used to refer to the flavor of a person’s life. It 
includes a person’s goal, self-concept, feelings for others, and attitude toward the 
world. It is the product of the interaction of heredity, environment, and a person’s cre -
ative power. Adler (1956) used a musical analogy to elucidate style of life. The separate Personal superiority
Personal gain
Exaggerated feelingsSuccess
Social interest
Normal feelings of incompletion
Feelings of inferiority
Physical deﬁciencies
Innate striving forceFinal goal
dimly perceivedFinal goal
clearly perceived
FIGURE 3.1  Two Basic Methods of Striving toward the Final Goal.
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