CLASSICAL ADLERIAN PSYCHOTHERAPY FORUM ARCHIVE
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Striving From a Felt Minus to an Imagined Plus
Henry Stein · 2/3/96 at 3:53 PM ET
A complete understanding of any of Adler's terms requires considerable in-depth study. Publications that attempt to simplify Adler's ideas appeal to the casual reader but mislead many, including clinicians, into thinking that his ideas are easy to assimilate. Many misconceptions are constantly repeated in textbooks and encyclopedias. Since, most of Adler's clinical writings are not yet readily available, it is not easy to find reliable sources. The work of Heinz and Rowena Ansbacher has been very helpful (see "Reading and Study Sources" in the ALFRED ADLER INSTITUTE OF SAN FRANCISCO link of the BOL home page).
The fundamental dynamic of human striving is a constant movement from a felt "minus" to an imagined "plus". The striving is influenced by: the type and intensity of the "minus" feeling (inferiority or insecurity); the degree of activity; the strength of the feeling of community; and the particular goal of an imagined "plus". The character of this movement is not easy to capture in a short phrase--it may erroneously suggest a static "snapshot" rather than a dynamic "moving picture". Also, the generalized, abstract concept of striving must be tailored to reflect the quality and direction of that striving in each individual's life.
It is helpful to consider a palette of terms to describe the variety of directions that individuals could take. People may strive for: superiority over difficulties, superiority over others, significance, completion, compensation, perfection, improvement, achievement, fulfillment, power, prestige, connection, recognition, security, adaptation, or overcoming. Generally, we evaluate each variation as either positive or negative (for the individual as well as society). The overuse of the phrases "striving for superiority" and "striving for power" in the literature implies that Adler saw all social relationship as fundamentally unequal and aggressive. In fact, he used these terms to describe only the negative or pathological variation. The desire to "be perfect, without flaw" can lead to socially useless activities, discouragement, and retreat into fantasy. The striving for godlike supremacy can lead to psychosis.
Adler's terms "striving for completion", "striving to overcome difficulties", and "striving to improve life for all people" reflect more of the positive potential of striving. At an optimal level, he talked about aligning ones striving "in the stream of evolution". He considered the active "striving for perfection" a potentially inspiring ideal, if it led to courageous improvement, correction, and refinement as well as useful social contribution. The striving to "actualize one's potential" was later echoed by Abraham Malsow.
In a spiritual/psychological context, Alexander Mueller used the phrase "striving to become one's best self" in his book YOU SHALL BE A BLESSING. Kurt Adler has talked about "striving for a better adaptation to the environment". Sophia de Vries often referred to a "striving for overcoming obstacles". Lydia Sicher wrote about "striving after some personal truth". Anthony Bruck suggested a "striving for personal significance". All of these expressions try to suggest the general upward striving of human beings. The direction of each person's striving is greatly influenced by the strength of that individual's feeling of community.
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