Reality and Fiction

I agree that Adler's connection to common sense is quite appealing, but no less appealing is his appreciation of the "fictional" aspects of our mental constructs. (It is illuminating to read Hans Vahinger's The Philosophy of 'As If', and to trace the impact of Vahinger's theory of fictional constructs on Adler's theory.)

Heinz Ansbacher, in The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler, comments on the use of memories to gain a picture of the client's childhood and a simplified picture of his style of life:

".....It was therefore irrelevant for Adler whether memories were true or not, or whether they were earlier or later memories." (p. 191)

Ansbacher also comments on early recollections and dreams:

"Recollections can be classified as productions of the individual because according to Adler they are selections, distortions, and inventions of past events by the individual to fit his underlying mood, purpose, and interests, and would change accordingly, if not in respect to content, at any rate in respect to feeling tone." (Ansbacher) (p.351)

"The projective character of both (memories and dreams) rests in the fact that the individual believes he is reporting on an objective event." (p.350)

The The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler also includes a comment by Adler regarding memory and the neurosis:

"Every one of the abstract guiding lines of the neurosis, and of the psychological mechanisms on which they are based, can be or can become available to our consciousness in the form of a memory image. This image which is a manifestation of the safeguarding tendency, can arise from the retention of a childhood experience, or it may be the product of fantasy.(p. 289)

Early in the development of his theory, Adler was quite surprised when he discovered that one of his own early childhood memories, (running back and forth across a graveyard near his home) could not possibly have happened.

Regarding the issue of changing a client's attitude in psychotherapy, we frequently have to reduce the emotional impact of negative memories and images (real or imagined) that act as a barrier to new experience and a different feeling. The task is not to "fake" an experience, but to place alongside what has happened (or what one imagines has happened) another more encouraging possibility that could happen in reality -- a possibility that has the potential of healing the old hurt, fear, or feeling of deficiency. Presenting this possibility in the vivid form of a new image or a "re-worked" memory can stimulate clients emotionally toward a different form of gratification than the ones they have experienced or previously imagined. The common sense or logic of the imagined alternative can then be discussed Socratically so that a convincing reason for real change emerges. Combining affective and cognitive strategies can provide the client with a more effective preparation for behavioral change.

In essence, "you can go home again" and re-do early relationships as a dress rehearsal for adult attitude change. If we accept Adler's view of memory as potentially fictional, there is no contraction in proposing a new more encouraging fiction to counteract a toxic one.

An inexperienced or inadequately trained therapist looking for a short-cut, can misuse any technique and make it deteriorate into a "gimmick." However, in the hands of a fully trained skillful clinician, the missing developmental experience (MDE) technique can facilitate deep emotional change and represents a significant contribution to the enhancement of Classical Adlerian practice.

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