Depreciation, Idealization, & Solicitude

Gil,

I was not aware of the current topic of 'downward social comparison' in academic social psychology.

In 1911, Adler wrote about the neurotic tendency to depreciate others as well as over-value one's own achievements. He mentioned several strategies for enhancing one's self esteem by disparaging others.

"The depreciation of the partner is the most usual phenomenon in neurotics. In some cases this may be obvious. In others this may be deeply hidden."

"Idealization is one of the most effective attitudes of the neurotic to measure thumbs down, so to speak, a real person by an ideal, since in doing so he can depreciate him as much as he wishes."

"I have found a further interesting kind of disparagement among neurotic patients in their solicitude, their anxious behavior, and their fears for the fate of other persons. They act as if without their aid the others would be incapable of caring for themselves."

Depreciation of the partner, idealization, and solicitude are very common dynamics that lead to distance and resentment in couples and families. At a larger scale, a cleaning compulsion may provide the bearer with a massive 'downward social comparison' to everyone in the world who is "dirtier".

Alexander Müller has also written on the topic of depreciation.

"The tendency toward depreciation can be described as the passive form of striving for superiority; the attempt to overtake everyone else in whatever capacity. Where there exists a high degree of striving for self-enhancement a person cannot accept the idea that another could be more talented, capable, or superior, that is more "worthy," than he. If he should doubt his ability to overtake another then he can resort to trickery: denigrating the other. A giant is made to appear as a midget."

Do the academic social psychologists recognize and credit the early Adlerian contributions?

Henry

Replies:

There are no replies to this message.

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.