www.ADLER-MAPS.com

MAPS, McAbee Adlerian Psychology Society 
for Maryland, Metropolitan DC, and Mid-Atlantic Adlerians

MAPS, the McAbee Adlerian Psychology Society is the regional affiliate of NASAP, the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology, whose mission is the promotion of Adlerian principles and practices.   Our name honors founder Hal McAbee, beloved Adlerian. Read about MAPS' History.

We hold a conference each fall, usually in  late September or early October. Information on the next one will be posted here once it is available.


Understanding:
"To see with the eyes of others, to walk in the shoes of others, and, to feel with the heart of others."
Alfred Adler
" Our ability to function depends on our feeling of belonging."
"We have harmony only among equals"
Rudolf Dreikurs


ABOUT ADLERIAN PSYCHOLOGY
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ADLERIAN PSYCHOLOGY {from UK Adlerian Society web site} ref: Dewey E. (1978) Coral Springs CMTI Press 
 
Socially Embedded
  • This contrasts with a hereditary or biological basis of behaviour.
  • We are social beings who want 'to belong' and find our place in the group.
  • All our problems are basically social problems around interacting with others.
  • The group is the field in which we move even if we move away
  • Our ability to cooperate and to contribute is a measure of our mental health. (Community feeling/Social interest - Gemeinschaftsgefühl) A well adjusted person behaves in line with the needs of a situation
    A mal-adjusted person has faulty concepts, personal feelings of inferiority and mistaken goals. She/he is overly concerned with What is in it for me or What others think of me.      Self determining and creative
    • Contrasts with mechanistic/deterministic theories.
    •  We are active participants who not only react, we act and can change interactions by what we do. We can shape aspects of our own destiny.
    • We decide what we will do, we are not victims of drives. Therefore, we can change, even if we are powerless to change a situation, we can change our response to it. Contrasts with mechanistic/deterministic theories. Goal Directed or Teleological
      • Contrasts with causal evaluation of behaviour
      • Our behaviour is purposive (although we are often unaware of the purpose)
      • We are not pushed by causes, but pulled by goals and our own dynamic striving
      • Causes usually cannot be changed but goals, once recognised, offer a choice.

        Subjective

        • Contrasts with an assumption of absolutes 
        • We give meaning to life, reality is as we perceive it. 
        • We cannot be objective about ourselves and our interpretation of experience 
        • There is no absolute truth for us, reality or truth is how we feel, what it means to us. 
        • Heredity or environment are not as important as what meaning we give them 'A psychology of use, not possession'

         

        Holism

        • Contrasts with a reductionist view
        •  A part is never understood by itself.
        •  A whole is more than the sum of the parts.
        •  We always look for patterns into which the details will fit. (we can perceive the design of a mosaic without separating the pieces)

          Adlerian Counseling Techniques from Bowie State University


          "Unfortunately, many value-free therapeutic approaches relieve personal distress, but reinforce self-centeredness. Classical Adlerian psychotherapy, with its emphasis on social equality, mutual respect, cooperation, responsibility, and contribution, provides the means of re-vitalizing democracy by addressing the core of problem--correcting undemocratic character structures.” http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hstein/relevanc.htm

          "In Adlerian psychotherapy, clients are encouraged to overcome their feelings of insecurity, develop deeper feelings of connectedness, and to redirect their striving for significance into more socially beneficial directions.  Through a respectful Socratic dialogue, they are challenged to correct mistaken assumptions, attitudes, behaviors and feelings about themselves and the world.  Constant encouragement stimulates clients to attempt what was previously felt as impossible.  The growth of confidence, pride, and gratification leads to a greater desire and ability to cooperate.  The objective of therapy is to replace exaggerated self-protection, self-enhancement, and self-indulgence with courageous social contribution." ( from: http://www.strisik.com/therapy/approaches.htm )




          Alfred Adler's (1870 - 1937) contributions are based on the need to understand individuals within their social context. As early as 1900, he began addressing such crucial concepts and issues as equality in relationships, parent education, the influence of family constellation, life style, and the holism of individuals. Adler was commissioned to develop child guidance centers and thousands of teachers were trained through demonstrations and lectures. He had a strong commitment to education and to the training of teachers, believing that teachers were among the most influential professionals in society.
          Adler developed his social psychological, developmental, cognitive personality theory between 1911 and 1937. Central to his theory is the individual as a unitary, goal directed and creative self. According to Adler, a person not only reacts to the environment in a unitary manner, but also the mind and body is interrelated in its function. Individual's need to belong, to feel connected to others and to contribute to the greater good of the community. Adlerian theory recognizes humans are influenced by their social setting and that their characteristics are developed within this social context and importantly, that all behavior has a purpose.

           

           A person's short term goals are congruent with and in line with, his or her long term goals. The goals are an integrating factor in a person's Life Style, which is an individual's cognitive map for dealing with life, and is a person's law of movement. We have a choice in formulating goals even considering our heredity and environment. It is not what we are born with, but what we do with it. Each person has a creative, inventive power which aids him or her in setting a path in life. Adlerian Psychology is optimistic in that as individuals we can make choices and thus are able to change if we choose.

          Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs, a follower of Adler, took over and expanded the centers even more. Out of these beginnings: Children the Challenge, Maintaining Sanity in the Classroom, Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP), Systematic Training for Effective Teaching (STET) and Co-operative Discipline were developed. These programs are now used world-wide because of their practical ability to help people achieve more harmonious relationships."
          (source: Adler Psychology Association of BC and Adler School of Professional Psychology,BC.
          "This mistaken idea of the importance of mistakes leads us to a mistaken concept of ourselves. We become overly impressed by everything that is wrong in us and around us. To be human does not mean to be right, does not mean to be perfect. To be human means to be useful, to make contributions - not for oneself, but for others - to take what there is and make the best out of it.”  - Rudolf Dreikurs (from Terner, J., & Pew, W. L. The Courage to be Imperfect: The Life and Work of Rudolf Dreikurs. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1978.)
          Interesting Web Sites and Articles on Adlerian Psychology:
          Past Events:

Last updated: 2006-06-20