Dissolving the Style of Life, and Meta-Motivation

John,

Perhaps the phrase “dissolving the style of life” will suggest the process more vividly. First, a few assumptions.

In early childhood, after a period of trial, error, and practice, a way of dealing with life’s challenges becomes fixed as a law of movement As compensation for a felt inferiority, a fictional goal is imagined that seems to promise security and significance. This direction, and way of getting there, become the repetitive pattern of the style of life. This compensatory pattern, which is rooted in a felt deficiency in one or more of the basic physiological, safety, belonging, or esteem needs, was identified by Abraham Maslow as “deficiency motivation.”

Maslow also described a higher level of motivation, within a needs hierarchy, called “growth motivation” or “meta-motivation.” He believed that the individual would have to satisfy the basic or lower needs first, in sequence, before they could become motivated by the higher needs. An Adlerian view of the basic needs would suggest that a mistaken fictional goal would prevent the fulfillment of these needs, or create the illusion of exaggerated needs. Consequently, a positive change in the client’s goal and style of life could potentially satisfy the basic needs.

Most Adlerian therapists identify this style of life for their clients, and try to encourage them to pursue their compensatory goals in a more positive way. This generally leads to a worthwhile improvement; however, there is more that can be done therapeutically. It is possible, although not very common, to “dissolve”a clients’ inferiority feelings, style of life, and fictional goal. This process opens the door to the “meta-motivation’ that Abraham Maslow described -- wherein an individual no longer pursues a final goal, but is motivated by higher values. The symptoms of letting go of one’s style of life are: an initial feeling of disorientation, followed by a sense of a widening psychological horizon, leading to an exploration of a new direction in life. Maslow referred to this exploration as “meta-therapy.” The result is a very high level of creative living that could be called “self/other/task-actualization.” (I have taken the liberty of modifying Maslow’s term to embrace the importance of not only actualizing one’s potential, but also helping others develop fully, and finding a mission in life.)

“Dissolving the style of life” and meta-therapy are not taught at many training institutes; consequently, few therapists have personally experienced their benefits. For an amplification of these methods, in the context of the entire therapeutic process, it would be helpful to read the material on “The Twelve Stages of Psychotherapy” in the document “Classical Adlerian Theory and Practice” at http://ourworld.com/homepages/hstein/theoprac.htm (AAISF Web site).

Have you considered attending our Summer Master Seminar, “Innovative Adlerian Case Analysis and Treatment Planning,” July 19-23, in San Francisco? You could spend 6 days (or more) in a beautiful city with a fine group of Classical Adlerians from all over the world. Check the Behavior OnLine home page, under Continuing Education, for a link to complete registration information. If you have questions, you may call me at (415) 567-4729.

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