Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler, Volume 2 - Journal Articles 1898-1909

266 Pages·2002·1.15 MB·English

by  Adler

The Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler Volume 2
Journal Articles: 1898-1909
A Study of Organ Inferiority: 1907
Alfred Adler
The Mind-Body Connection Social Activism &
Sexuality
New Translations by Gerald L. Liebenau Edited by
Henry T. Stein, Ph.D.
Classical Adlerian Translation Project
© 2002 by Henry T. Stein, Ph.D.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright
Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or
any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing
from the editor. All inquiries should be sent to Henry T. Stein, Ph.D., at Alfred
Adler Institute of San Francisco. E-mail: [email protected] . Web Site:
www.Adlerian.us .
Published 2002 by:
The Classical Adlerian Translation Project Alfred Adler Institute of
Northwestern Washington 2565 Mayflower Lane
Bellingham, WA 98226
[phone]
First Printing 2002
Second Printing 2003, revised
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 0-9715645-1-5
Table of Contents
Editor’s Preface – 2002
......................................................................................... iii About the Translator
.............................................................................................. vi An Introduction by
Sophia de Vries - 1990 .......................................................... vii Table of
Abstracts
Part I – Journal Articles [1809-1909] ........................................................ ix Part
II – A Study of Organ Inferiority [1907].......................................... xiii
Chapter I: Chapter II: Chapter III: Chapter IV:
Chapter V:
Chapter VI: Chapter VII:
Part I – Journal Articles 1898-1909
Health Manual for the Tailoring Trade [1898] ...............................1
The Penetration of Social Forces into Medicine [1902] ...............15
An Academic Chair for Social Medicine [1902] ..........................19
Town and Country (Part 1) [1903]................................................22
Town and Country (Part 2 - Continuation) ....................................24
Town and Country (Part 3 - Conclusion).......................................26
State Aid or Self Help (Part 1) [1903] ...........................................28
State Aid or Self Help (Part 2 - Conclusion) .................................30
The Physician as Educator [1904] ................................................32
Hygiene and Sex (Part 1) [1904] ...................................................39
Hygiene and Sex (Part 2 – Conclusion).........................................41
Chapter VIII: The Problem of Sex in Upbringing [1905] ...................................44
Chapter IX: Chapter X. Chapter XI: The Aggression Drive in Life and in the
Neurosis [1908]............62
Chapter XII: Inheritance of Diseases [1908]......................................................69
Chapter XIII: The Child’s Need for Affection [1908] ........................................75
Chapter XIV: The Theory of Organ Inferiority and Its Philosophical and
Psychological Meaning [1908] .....................................................78
Chapter XV: A Prostitute’s Two Dreams [1908] ...............................................86
Chapter XVI: On the Neurotic Disposition
[1909]...............................................89
Chapter XVII: Myelodysplasia (Organ Inferiority) [1909]
................................104
Three PsychoAnalyses Concerning Inspired Numbers [1905]....49
Developmental Defects in Children [1907] ..................................56
(Continued on page ii) i
Table of Contents - Continued
Part II – A Study of Organ Inferiority and Its Psychical
Compensation [1907]
Adler’s Preface to the 1907
Edition.....................................................................115 Introduction
......................................................................................................117 Chapter I:
Chapter II: Chapter III: Chapter IV: Chapter V: Chapter VI: Chapter VII: The
Part Played by the Central nervous System in the
Theory of Organ Inferiority—Psychogenesis and Foundations of Neuroses
and Psychoneuroses .................................................166
Chapter VIII: Biological Viewpoint in the Organ Inferiority Theory
................175
Appendix: The Inferiority of the Urinary Apparatus – Fate of Enuretics and
Their Families .......................................................................178 Glossary of
Medical Terms..................................................................................192
Outline of a Theory of Inferiority ................................................121
Heredity........................................................................................130
Anamnestic Demonstration..........................................................137
Morphologic Indications..............................................................141
Reflex Anomalies as Indications of Inferiority............................152
Manifold Organ Inferiorities........................................................161
Index of Parts I & II
.............................................................................................202
“A Psychology for Democracy”
..........................................................................222 ii
Editor’s Preface – 2002
Editor’s Preface – 2002
1936, document the sequence of his conceptual development. By reading the
complete series of his clinical writings in chronological order, we can appreciate
the gradual emergence of Adler’s remarkably integrated model of the
personality, theory of psychopathology, principles of prevention, technique of
psychotherapy, and philosophy of living. His ground-breaking odyssey of
psychological exploration and refinement creates a uniquely unified vision of
man.
We can gain a macrocosmic view of his work by first tracking his early
sense of a physician’s social responsibility, then his brief engagement with the
psychoanalytic circle, including the stimulation of Freud and Jung, and finally
the gradual maturation of his own theory. It is interesting to follow the early
emphasis on the aggression drive, to the later prominence of the striving for
significance, and eventually the emergence of the feeling of community.
His very first publication, Health Manual for The Tailoring Trade,
published in 1898, is remarkably vivid and moving. Rich in illuminating detail,
it provides a powerful impression of the hellish life of tailors in Vienna during
the late 1890’s, and the devastating impact of their work, economic situation,
and living conditions on their health. Eventually, when we discover that the life
expectancy of tailors at that time was only 33-48 years, we are appalled, but not
surprised.
In his next two articles, The Penetration of Social Forces into Medicine and
An Academic Chair for Social Medicine, published in 1902, Adler argues for
expanding state health care and prevention programs. He amplifies this message
in his 1903 article State Aid or Self Help. His eloquent appeal for effective
medical insurance, nearly a century ago, seems remarkably fresh and timely
today in the midst of our managed care crisis.
Adler’s early interest in child guidance and education is expressed in The
Physician as Educator, published in 1904. From 1905-1909, Adler deals with
sexuality, dreams, the aggression drive, organ inferiority, the child’s need for
affection, and the neurotic disposition. We can trace his journey from a
physician’s awareness of the human body, through an emerging social
consciousness, to a fascination with the interconnectedness of intellect,
emotions, and body.
Although it can be a formidable reading challenge, the highly medical Study
of Organ Inferiority and Its Psychical Compensations has been included in this
volume. For the convenience of the reader, a medical glossary has been added to
clarify the terminology. I find the material a stimulating and informative
refresher course in physiology, and helpful in examining the roots of Adler’s
thinking about organ dialect and organ jargon.
A few of Adler’s early comments about sexuality may strike some readers as
“politically incorrect.” I have chosen to retain all of the text intact, without
iii eliminating or modifying controversial material. I hope that in the
interest of scholarship and historical accuracy, the reader will appreciate the
range and completeness of these articles, and understand that some of the early
opinions that were typical in Adler’s time and place are no longer consistent
with the current assumptions of Classical Adlerian Psychology. Adler’s respect
and compassion for all people transcends his occasional blunt and penetrating
comments about the social meaning and impact of diverse attitudes.
Some of Adler’s early articles, like Three PsychoAnalyses Concerning
Inspired Numbers and A Prostitutes Two Dreams, are rather esoteric and may
not interest everyone, but I decided to include these and a few other articles of
somewhat limited contemporary value so that researchers would have access to
them.
Adlerian psychology eventually matured as a psychology of values. With
razor sharp perception he “called a spade a spade,” exposing the social viruses of
self-indulgence, arrogance, depreciation, and the addiction to power over others.
His penetrating critique of selfishness and his appraisal of Freud’s theory as “the
psychology of the spoiled child” have understandably made a number of people
uncomfortable. Yet Adler’s frankness and simplicity are refreshing in a field too
often saturated with technical jargon and disguised rationalizations for
egocentricity.
The publication of The Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler would not
have been possible without the painstaking scholarship of Heinz and Rowena
Ansbacher. Their comprehensive bibliographies in The Individual Psychology of
Alfred Adler and Superiority and Social Interest provided the blueprint for
gathering all of the material that needed to be translated or re-translated. Their
books provide a well-organized overview of Adlerian psychology, with selected
excerpts from his works, organized by topics. The Collected Clinical Works of
Alfred Adler represents an expansion of Adler’s writings by providing the
complete text of his journal articles arranged in chronological order
Sophia de Vries, who studied with Alfred Adler, Alexander Mueller, and
Lydia Sicher, served as my mentor for over twenty-five years. In 1990, she
began translating some of Adler’s journal articles and authored the introduction
included in this volume. Her spark ignited the Classical Adlerian translation
project. Several of her first draft translations served as reference documents. She
always emphasized the importance of reading Adler’s original writings for a
deeper understanding of Individual Psychology.
My invaluable collaboration with Gerald L. Liebenau, the superb, primary
translator of these articles, spans many years, starting with his insightful
translations of the works of Alexander Mueller, a psychiatrist who studied with
Adler and then practiced in Holland and Switzerland. Translating Mueller’s very
profound and subtle writings about Adlerian theory, philosophy, and practice
provided an effective “warm-up” for tackling Adler’s clinical writings. Gerald
has been a joy to work with over the years—his progressively deeper
understanding of Adler as well as his passion for accuracy have done great
justice to Adler’s clinical writings. Early in our work, Kurt Adler, Adler’s son
and an outstanding Adlerian psychiatrist, offered to check, edit, and guide us in
our efforts to reflect Adler’s ideas and style of expression as faithfully as
possible. Gradually, Gerald, Kurt, and I synchronized in an understanding of
Adler’s deeper meanings and unique, complex writing style. Kurt assisted us for
several years until his failing health made it too difficult to continue. His
significant contribution and encouragement provided a great stimulus to
complete a formidable task.
Jim Wolf, who has contributed to this project for many years as an editor,
has created a Table of Abstracts that offers a convenient, brief summary of each
article. Dyanne Pienkowski provided extremely valuable editing and proofing.
One possible consequence of presenting Adler’s work chronologically,
from 1898 –1936, is that the reader may question his relevance to our time. In
order to counterbalance this possibility and respond to the question, “A
Psychology for Democracy” has been included in the appendix. The paper
explores the thesis that a genuinely democratic society can only be achieved by
fostering democratic character in individuals, who are then capable of creating
democratic relationships in their marriages, families, and work. More than any
other psychological approach, Adler provided us with the child guidance,
educational, and therapeutic tools for achieving this ideal.
Volume 1, The Neurotic Character, published in 1907, complements the
material in this volume covering the period 1898-1909. Adler’s magnum opus
offers remarkable insight into the human soul gone astray. Reading both
volumes will give the reader a superb perspective on the first stage of Adler’s
conceptual development.
It is time for The Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler to finally be
placed in the spotlight beside the writings of Freud and Jung. His wisdom and
optimism about human nature shine through the pages, lighting the way to a
more hopeful future.
v About theTranslator
About the Translator Gerald L. Liebenau
Gerald L. Liebenau was born in Berlin, Germany. During World War II he
served with the Office of Strategic Services as an interpreter and translator. He
graduated from Yale University and embarked on a career with the Central
Intelligence Agency. He is the translator of Nicholas Gonner's Luxemburgers in
the New World, and Janusz Piekalkiewicz's World History of Espionage. He
currently resides in Arlington, Virginia.
1
An Introduction by Sophia de Vries - 1990
"The repeated rendering of an oral tradition over many generations
inevitably leads to errors in transmission and the gradual loss of the original
content, a degradation of information that occurs more slowly with the
successive reprinting of written accounts." -- Carl Sagan, "The Dragons of
Eden".
To those of us who have had the privilege of learning Individual
Psychology from Alfred Adler himself, before his death on May 28th, 1937 in
Aberdeen, and who have worked together with his closest followers afterwards,
it is very satisfying that Individual Psychology has become known as an
important discipline in psychology. However, there is also a concern that certain
aspects of what goes under the name of Individual Psychology would not readily
be recognized by its originator.
There was a time when music meant compositions by Bach, Beethoven,
Brahms and the like. There also was "entertainment" music. Nowadays, anyone
who can put his finger on an instrument and at the same time abuse his vocal
chords, makes music. Creating art by means of painting was done by people like
Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Renoir, etc. Today, four-years-olds do "art" work in
finger-painting. Popularization can have its drawbacks.
When I introduced Adler for the last lecture to his audience in Holland
before he left for England, his topic was "responsibility." To this day I recall his
penetrating look, when he finished his talk with: "Those of you who really
understand Individual Psychology and have learned to apply it, carry a heavy
responsibility." In the following years we experienced this and still do. For that
reason I have presented Adler's original Individual Psychology the way he taught
it himself, and have added translations of some lectures and articles by Adler as
published in the "Internationale Zeitschrift für Individualpsychologie."
There have been composers who used another composer's theme, calling it
"variations on a theme" by the other's name. Others just used the theme and
published the composition under their own name. Painters have copied great
masters and called it a copy, while some have copied the style of the master,
putting the master's name on the fraud. Art and science can be interpreted in
different ways, except when the originator has been explicit in his interpretation.
Toscanini interpreted Beethoven the way Beethoven had written his music.
Alfred Adler was an originator who was outspoken in his interpretations, if one
only listened and made an effort to comprehend.
1 Sophia J. de Vries, who studied with Alfred Adler, Lydia Sicher, and
Alexander Mueller, wrote this introduction in 1990 to a series of journal articles
by Alfred Adler that she had translated. At the time, she was living in Oakland,
California and was a consultant and senior training analyst for the Alfred Adler
Institute of San Francisco. Her work served as an incentive to carry on the
translation of Adler’s clinical works and as reference documents for later
translations.
vii
The reader should not forget that Adler still got a “lot of flack” from the
existing (early) group of Freudians. In some articles he clearly denounces his
opponents. In others he warns his own followers who did not understand him or
thought they could do better. Most of these passages have been included,
because they will always remain valid.
During World War II Individual Psychology was dormant. Hitler had
decreed that Adler's and Freud's theories should not be learned, as both men
were born Jewish. Only Jung's psychology could openly be practiced. Practicing
Adlerians had to be extremely cautious. Many got out of Austria, Germany, and
the occupied countries.
In Holland Individual Psychology owes its rebirth in a large part to Dr.
Alexander Müller, who had been a close co-worker of Adler, Dr. Ronge, and
others. Later Müller established himself in Zürich, Switzerland, where his name
is still mentioned in the Individual Psychology group he helped to form. During
his years in Holland, we had worked closely together and later I visited him in
Zürich. On my last visit, before his death in July, 1960, we discussed the inroads
Individual Psychology had made. Müller's conclusion was: "Adler has not yet
been fully understood. He has to be rediscovered from the roots up.”
viii
Table of Abstracts
Developed by Jim Wolf
Part I – Journal Articles: 1898 - 1908
Chapter I: Health Manual for the Tailoring Trade [1898]
Adler describes the relationship between the economic conditions of
workers in the tailoring trade and the resulting illnesses and medical issues
common among those workers. This is not a psychologically focused paper, but
is important in that it shows Adler’s interest in the plight of the common man,
and his early insights into environmental, economic, and social forces which
influence health issues.
Chapter II: The Penetration of Social Forces into Medicine [1902]
This first article written in 1902, traces the influence of social forces on
medicine and healing that lead to public health, prevention, and the eventual
confrontation of “social misery,” as well as other social issues that impact the
public health. Adler also comments on the government’s role, it’s relationship