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ALFRED ADLER & CHILD-REARING.

Examines psychologist's personality theory & applies it to parent education programs & research into disruptive behavior.

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Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to examine current applications of Alfred Adler's personality theory to child-behavior and child-rearing practices. To provide context, this review of applications begins with a brief synopsis of Adler's general personality theory.
Adler's General Personality Theory: A Synopsis
Pervin (1992) reports that the personality theory of Alfred Adler, unlike the personality theory of Sigmund Freud, assigned sexual urges a secondary role in the dynamics of personality. Instead, Adler emphasized the superiority strivings of individuals with behavior being characterized as goal-directed and consciously chosen rather than driven and pre-determined by biological urges or the unconscious mind. Further, Adler called

(Microfilm Order No. In therapy, Adler emphasized childhood recollections solely for cluesto the client's present style of life as it related to dealing withfeelings of inferiority resulting from childhood experiences (Pervin,1992). Thecontemporary Adlerian perspective also states that in order for parents toeffectively utilize these principles, they also must overcome the sense ofinferiority they have developed as the result of their own childhood. Journal of Multicultural Counseling andDevelopment, 22(4), 215-226. The goal in the parent-child relationship is to foster cooperation. The workshopsalso focused on creating a system of natural and logical consequences fordiscipline. Croake, J.W. AAD13-4 311) NOTE TO CLIENT Please note that I checked several databases for current informationon Adlerian applications regarding child-rearing, e.g. Common ways in which parents mishandle problems in raising theirchildren are said to include: (1) denying a problem exists, (2) havingunrealistic expectations, and (3) following principles of parenting whichare only adding to their problems. I even checked some medicaldatabases under the headings of "psychology" and/or "psychiatry." What Iput in the paper are the most recent sources I could find on this topic.----------------------- 9 Another postulate in the clinical Adlerian model is that children'saggressive behavior indicates a hostile family environment in which thechild behaves aggressively because he is afraid if he does not actaggressively, others will. Two instruments were used in the study on a pre- and post-test basis:the Attitude Toward Child Rearing Scale, and the Goal Attainment Scale.Data were also obtained from a questionnaire developed by this researcherand based upon materials utilized by the Elk Grove Unified School District,California. Children and change: The challengeof parent education in the new Russian Federation. With respect to attitudes as measured by the researchinstruments, results showed a significant change from pre- to post-testing,suggesting that movement occurred in the more positive or democraticdirection. Nelsen, J. The review of the current literaturepresented here demonstrated that contemporary applications are boththeoretical and behavioral; that is, recent applications of Alfred Adler'stheories consist of refinements of his original conceptual model and thedevelopment of strategies and methods related to more effectively rearingchildren and dealing with their disruptive and/or aggressive behavior. Another related application of the modern Adlerian perspective ofchild-rearing has been to utilize the theoretical or conceptual foundationof the perspective to generate research into programs specifically aimed atdealing with children's disruptive behavior. It was further concluded that the methods andstrategies so often used in parent education training are also effectivefor use in training non-parental custodians of children such as educatorsand or guardians. Regarding the theoretical, modern day versions of Adlerian theorypostulate that parents mishandle children and actually create problems intheir efforts to mold the child toward some ideal rather than realizingthat what is needed is the application of democratic principles ofdiscipline that encourage the building of the child's self-esteem, sense ofresponsibility, problem-solving skills, and prosocial behavior. (1996). Inparticular, Kizer notes that Adler's theory is holistic, social,teleological, and phenomenological. Based on findings, Hosch (1987) concluded that the use of an Adlerianapproach was effective in facilitating attitude and behavioral change forgroup participants. Both early and recent research offers a good deal of support forthese views and suggests that they can be effectively implemented to helpchildren with behavioral problems related to aggression. As with the parent training workshops, the focus remains oncorrecting the child's inability to cooperate with others---a problem thatis said to be the result of feelings of inferiority and a lack of a goal inlife. Based on these evaluativedata, Carmack and Carmack (1994) concluded that the Adlerian approach toparent education was suited not only to the parenting/child-rearing needsof Americans but also to the parenting/child-rearing needs of modernRussia. The therapist attempts to view the problem through the child's eyes. (1988). To provide context, this review of applications begins with abrief synopsis of Adler's general personality theory. Another practicalapplication of contemporary Adlerian views has been the generation ofongoing research into methods of improving and evaluating parent trainingworkshops. Such workshops have not only beenimplemented in America but also in other countries. Forexample, Carmack and Carmack (1994) described the presentation of parentaleducation programs based on Adlerian parental education in Vladivostok,Russia, before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, most modern Adlerian therapists feel that this therapeuticapproach would be helpful not only for aggressive children but for allchildren. The view states that both groups believe they must continuallytry to mold a child according to their perceived ideal--a notion said tofutile. Further, Adlercalled attention to the influence that an individual's immediate socialenvironment had on his or her behavior and the contribution of thisenvironment to the development of personality. (1976). In addition, the data suggested that the off-task behavior ofstudents identified as disruptive decreased from initial baseline figuresover the course of the intervention program. In this regard, Nelsen (1996) reports thatAdler's perspective contends that almost every individual suffers from somereal or perceived injury to esteem in childhood resulting in feelings ofinferiority and that what is need is to overcome these feelings is forparents (as well as others working with children such as psychologists,educators, physicians) to assist children to learn self-discipline,responsibility, problem-solving skills, and cooperation. Regarding therapy, modern Adlerian views stillmaintain the directive approach first advocated by Adler. Journal of AdlerianTheory, Research and Practice, 5 (3), 321-328. Adler's General Personality Theory: A Synopsis Pervin (1992) reports that the personality theory of Alfred Adler,unlike the personality theory of Sigmund Freud, assigned sexual urges asecondary role in the dynamics of personality. Indeed,the authors argue that Adlerian emphases fit well with many ethnic groups'value systems. How to deal with disruptive children. Parent study group effectivenessafter four and after six weeks. Such programs include methods and techniquesaimed at: (1) Helping parents understand why children do not behave the waythey used to, and why both controlling and overly-permissive disciplinestyles are ineffective; (2) Teaching parents to utilize positive discipline principles aimedat reducing disruptive behavior via a recognition of the underlying reasonsmotivating the behavior; (3) Informing parents about birth-order and the differential kinds ofparent-child interaction that occur for different orders of birth; (4) Teaching parents the four main behavioral issues involved inchild-rearing (undue attention, power, revenge, and assumed inadequacy); (5) Showing parents the use of natural and logical consequences tocreate helpful learning experiences for children; (6) Teaching parents howto effectively encourage children; Another important component of Adlerian parent education programs isthe use of family meetings whose purpose is to teach cooperation, mutualrespect, and social interest. The child is aggressive because he is afraid if he does notact aggressively, others will. PsychInfo, ERIC,Dissertation Abstracts International, etc. Williams, U.H. AAD87-21375) Kizer, B. Moreover, the authors report that the modelhas proven to be especially useful to counselors in terms of generatingvaluable insights in the counseling of ethnic children and youths. Hosch, A.F.K. Moreover, thereare indications that the contemporary Adlerian approach can be successfullyimplemented with a variety of ethnic groups. Evaluative data collected on the workshops showed that after initialhesitation, participants willingly interacted and worked in groups. In some cases, parental workshops are not enough; that is, childrenstill need therapy. (1994). Results showed that parents tested afterfour weeks had made significantly greater gains on the AFTC-II and the CRPSthan the controls. Positive discipline (revised ed.) NY: BallatineBooks. The positive findings observed for Adlerian parent education programswere successfully replicated in continuing research---so much so that todaysuch programs are effectively utilized in many other countries. (199 ). & Runion, K.B. What the Adlerian therapist attempts to do iseducate the child regarding these matters, and to work toward fostering agreater sense of social cooperation. According to Williams (199 ), theAdlerian perspective asserts that parents and educators can only develop orhamper children's natural tendencies, or better yet, direct them towardcultural goals. The practical application of contemporary Adlerian views has been thedevelopment of parent training workshops that not only assist parents toovercome their own shortcomings but also teach them the use of Adlerianmethods and strategies of child-rearing. Still other researchers have examined the efficacy of the Adlerianperspective as a counseling strategy. (Master's Thesis, The University of Arizona) Masters Abstracts,29(1), p. Regarding the application of Adleriantherapy with aggressive or disruptive children, Kizer (1988) offers insightinto the conceptual foundation of the contemporary perspective. (MicrofilmOrder No. Kizer (1988) states that over the years Adler's original work hasbeen refined by other authors, especially Rudolf Dreikurs, and that it isthese refinements---which focus on the need for the use of democraticprinciples in adult-child interactions---that has made Adler's originalwork on family counseling a viable force in counselor education throughoutthe United States and Canada. In the study 75 parents were given the Attitude Toward the Freedom ofChildren-Scale II (ATFC-II), the Child Rearing Practices Scale, (CRPS), andthe Children's Behavior Checklist (CBC) following the first group session.Approximately 43 of these parents were posttested after the fourth sessionand 32 were posttested after the sixth session. Basic themes of Adlerian perspective of childrearing. In order for parents to overcome their own difficulties with feelingsof inferiority and to assist their children in dealing with similarfeelings, the Adlerian perspective emphasizes behavioral and educationaltraining. Adlerians recommend democratic child rearing practices not only for aggressive children, but for all children. Severalcommon problems of child rearing were discussed by parents, including thepampering of children and all participants appeared to feel that they hadlearned some significant and useful information. (1994). 34 6. & Burness, M.R. Indeed, these positive findings have been observed evenin the earliest studies of parent education training. Specifically, Adler believed that the basis of problems with childrenoriginated in the child's inability to cooperate with society, feelings ofinferiority, and a lack of a goal in life. Nelsen (1996) states that a good deal ofcurrent research has shown that the family environment resulting fromAdlerian parent education training is significantly improved over itsprevious levels. ED 3 2 79 ). Adler felt the child's lifeshould be examined through the child's eyes. Aggressive behavior was said to be an indication of a hostileenvironment. For example, in one early study Croake and Burness (1976) testedwhether the same positive improvement in parents' child-rearing attitudes,child-rearing behaviors, and children's behavior would occur after as fewas four or six weekly sessions of an Adlerian Parent Education Group as hadbeen previously noted after ten such sessions. 15. Applications of Adler's General Theory To Child Behavior And Child-Rearing Current applications of Adler's Personality Theory to Child Behaviorand Child-rearing practices are at both the theoretical and behaviorallevel. (1987). Adler feels that only the parent who has overcome his/herown shortcomings will be capable of developing the child's potential. A variety of behavioral and educational strategies areemphasized. References Carmack, C. Basic themes of the Adlerian perspective as applied to modern daychild-rearing practices and strategies have been discussed by Williams(199 ) who reports that the contemporary Adlerian view focuses on themisconception parents (and often educators) hold regarding child-rearingpractices. An elementary school in a County in ametropolitan area in Washington, D.C. & Carmack, E. A multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare the change inscores made by the experimental group parents to the scores of untrainedparents in three control groups. Instead, Adler emphasizedthe superiority strivings of individuals with behavior being characterizedas goal-directed and consciously chosen rather than driven and pre-determined by biological urges or the unconscious mind. Journal of Individual Psychology, 32(1),1 8-111. As to the shortcomings of parents and their effects on the child, thecontemporary Adlerian view still emphasizes the inferiority/superioritydimensions discussed by Adler. The program focused on the attitudes and behavior of adults (schoolstaff, parents and guardians) working with and caring for childrenidentified as disruptive. (DoctoralDissertation, Union for Experimenting Colleges and Universities WithoutWalls) Dissertation Abstracts International, 48(11-B), p. In this regard, Kizer (1988) states: Adlerian counselors are viewed as educators and most of the problems that children have are problems of education rather than illnesses. Adlerian therapy with aggressive children. A combined group consisting of eleven school staff/parent-guardiansmet on a weekly basis for nine weeks in order to learn: (a) how tofacilitate democratic home-school environments; (b) how to determine goalsof misbehavior along with corrective measures; and, (c) strategies forencouraging children. 1) Herring and Runion (1994) have reported that the therapeutic conceptsof Adler's theory have been successfully used by professional counselors,especially school counselors. Parental education workshops provided to Russians included helpingparents to understand the goals of children's misbehavior, and emphasizedthe use of encouragement to build children's self-esteem. An example of this kind ofresearch can be found in a study conducted by Hosch (1987) who evaluatedthe effectiveness of an intervention program designed by the author usingthe Adlerian conceptual model. A variety of statistical methods were utilized in order to analyzeobtained data, including percentages, z scores, and Wilcox Paris SignedRanks tests. Pervin, L.A. Herring, R.d. Counseling ethnic children andyouth from an Adlerian perspective. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to examine current applications ofAlfred Adler's personality theory to child-behavior and child-rearingpractices. The approach,however, is holistic, social, teleological, and phenomenological. According to Nelsen (1996), these strategies are often taught inparent education programs. (p. Summary and Conclusions Given the foregoing, the question can be asked: What are the modernday applications of Alfred Adler's personality theory as related to childbehavior and child rearing methods? Both of these categories of application are reviewed here. (1992).Personality: Theory, assessment, and research(5th ed.) NY: Wiley. (ERICDocument Reproduction Service No. was used as a research site. For example, some individuals will strive to overcome childhoodfeelings of inferiority in a productive goal-oriented manner while otherswill seek sympathy, drifting over to apathy, dependency and "uselessness."Adler's perspective, Pervin (1992) states, focused on an activeinterventionist approach with clients urging them to replace their"useless" behavior patterns with a healthy striving for self-improvementand an increase in social interest.

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