Value of Typologies

Tavit,

Simplified typologies are useful as preliminary (and temporary) schemes for orienting students at the beginning of their training. However, if we wish to do justice to Adler's view of the uniqueness of each individual, in clinical practice we must eventually abandon all typologies and learn to capture a dynamic picture of each individual's actual movements in relation to external problems and an internal, fictional final goal.

A complete style of life analysis embraces many of Adler's constructs, including: childhood prototype; primary and secondary inferiority feelings; compensatory, fictional final goal; attitudes toward the three life tasks; antithetical scheme of apperception; and private logic. It generally takes several years of weekly case consultation with an experienced clinician to master this creative art.

Although it may be tempting to use simplified typologies in practice, they never capture the uniqueness of the individual sufficiently to help clients feel deeply understood, nor do they provide adequate reference points for precise, effective treatment planning.

Replies:

Plusses and Minuses of Typologies, by Carol Oster, 12/23/96 Evolution of Adlerian Theory and Practice, by Henry Stein, 1/5/97 commonalities between Adler and constructivist cognitive psychotherapy, by Peter Gambino, 1/10/97 Adding Cognitive Science to Adlerian Theory, by Carol Oster, 1/13/97 Adding Other Sciences, by Henry Stein, 1/29/97

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