Part II    Psychodynamic Theories92
Some women fight against their feminine roles, developing a masculine orienta -
tion and becoming assertive and competitive; others revolt by adopting a passive role, 
becoming exceedingly helpless and obedient; still others become resigned to the belief 
that they are inferior human beings, acknowledging men’s privileged position by shifting 
responsibilities to them. Each of these modes of adjustment results from cultural and 
social influences, not from the inherent psychic differences between the two genders.
Adler, Freud, and the Masculine Protest
In the previous chapter we saw that Freud (1924/1961) believed that “anatomy is 
destiny” (p. 178), and that he regarded women as the “‘dark continent’ for psychol -
ogy” (Freud 1926/1959b, p. 212). Moreover, near the end of his life, he was still 
asking, “What does a woman want?” (E. Jones, 1955, p. 421). According to Adler, 
these attitudes toward women would be evidence of a person with a strong masculine 
protest. In contrast to Freud’s views on women, Adler assumed that women—because 
they have the same physiological and psychological needs as men—want more or less 
the same things that men want.
These opposing views on femininity were magnified in the women Freud and 
Adler chose to marry. Martha Bernays Freud was a subservient housewife dedicated 
to her children and husband, but she had no interest in her husband’s professional 
work. In contrast, Raissa Epstein Adler was an intensely independent woman who 
abhorred the traditional domestic role, preferring a politically active career.
During the early years of their marriage, Raissa and Alfred Adler had somewhat 
compatible political views, but in time, these views diverged. Alfred became more 
of a capitalist, advocating personal responsibility, while Raissa became involved in 
the dangerous Communist politics of her native Russia. Such independence pleased 
Adler, who was as much a feminist as his strong-willed wife.
Applications of Individual Psychology
We have divided the practical applications of individual psychology into four areas: 
(1) family constellation, (2) early recollections, (3) dreams, and (4) psychotherapy.
Family Constellation
In therapy, Adler almost always asked patients about their family constellation, that 
is, their birth order, the gender of their siblings, and the age spread between them. 
Although people’s perception of the situation into which they were born is more impor -
tant than numerical rank, Adler did form some general hypotheses about birth order.
Firstborn children, according to Adler (1931), are likely to have intensified 
feelings of power and superiority, high anxiety, and overprotective tendencies. (Recall 
that Freud was his mother’s firstborn child.) Firstborn children occupy a unique posi -
tion, being an only child for a time and then experiencing a traumatic dethronement 
when a younger sibling is born. This event dramatically changes the situation and the 
child’s view of the world.
If firstborn children are age 3 or older when a baby brother or sister is born, 
they incorporate this dethronement into a previously established style of life. If they 
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