Adler's Viewpoint

• What would Adler's viewpoint be? by Michelle, 4/27/98
  
  

Adlerian principles for resolving conflict and eliciting cooperation between any family members, can simply be extended to step-parents and step-children. Parental dominance and depreciation are usually rooted in personal insecurities and mistaken ideas of authority and superiority. It is often difficult to convince parents or step-parents to change their dysfunctional parenting style as long as it relieves their own feelings of inferiority. If a therapist can empathically gain their confidence, they might be willing to examine the real consequences of their style, and then explore the potential benefits of a more democratic style.

Adler emphasized a child's preparation for dealing with new, difficult situations. Generally, a pampered, neglected, or abused child will have, and make difficulties, when a family situation changes and step-parents are introduced. However, a cooperative child may be able to deal with a new, even less favorable situation, more successfully. Look at

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