A Socratic Examination of Values

Very clear, explicit values are at the core of Adlerian theory, philosophy, and practice, providing personal and professional orientation, direction, and inspiration. The client's values may also be explicit, but are more often only implicit in their interests, actions, and feelings. Consequently, we frequently gain clearer impressions of clients' values from what they do, rather than from what they say, especially if there are contradictions between the two.

Metaphorically, values are like a personal compass on a private map of life. Both may have varying degrees of error, leading the traveler in the wrong direction and providing faulty pictures of what will probably be found. A new "map of probability" can be co-constructed by client and therapist through a series of Socratic questions. Socrates and his students searched for universal truths -- Classical Adlerians and their clients search for common sense. "North" for Adler represented the feeling of community, cooperation, and contribution to social improvement. "South" led to egocentricity, domination, and exploitation. Each of these directions have somewhat predictable psychological and social consequences.

Some values, like, prestige, power, wealth, pleasure, and security, if embraced without a sufficient concern for the welfare of others, may eventually lead to mutual isolation, unhappiness, and hostility. By contrast, the pursuit of higher values like truth, beauty, or justice, when combined with an interest in the well-being of others, may lead to mutual fulfillment and significant social progress.

In a somewhat dialectical fashion, the "cost/benefit ratio" of different directions can be explored and compared in psychotherapy. The client is always free to choose and sustain any direction. There will be no clash of values between client and therapist as long as we do not try to persuade the client to think the way we do. The clash will be between the client's values and their inevitable consequences in life.

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Yes, Adler was humble and very Creative, by Carmen Knowles, 4/21/96

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