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ALFRED ADLER.
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His theories of sexuality and personality.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
His theories of sexuality and personality. Paper based on compilation of Adler's writings in "Cooperation Between the Sexes," edited by Heinz Ansbacher. Topics include myth of women's inferiority, division of labor and power. Masculine protest and its relation to competence. Adler's critique of Freud. Discussion of sexuality, love and marriage.

Paper Introduction:
Review Cooperation Between the Sexes (1978) is a compilation, edited and translated by Heinz Ansbacher, of writings by Alfred Adler on sex, feminism, love, marriage, and what those entail in the realm of psychology. According to Ansbacher (1978), Alfred Adler's theory of sexuality "is best characterized as the opposite of the Freud's" (Ansbacher, 1978, p. v). Furthermore, Ansbacher believed that since Adler believed in the unity of the personality, "a presentation of his sexual theories will be practically an introduction to his theory of personality as a whole" (p. v). To Adler, sex, social relations, and work were the three greatest problems in life that a person must face (Ansbacher, 1978, p. v). Accordingly, Ansbacher has set up this book to cover

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R. Cooperation Between the Sexes: Writings on Women and Men,Love and Marriage, and Sexuality. Within this law a woman plays less the role of a person than that of a function in the interest of progeny (p. Adler then discusses the variousneuroses that arise as a result of this tension and compares his viewpointto that of Freud's. 3). 128). Chapter Three is a discussion of human sexuality and the relationbetween the sexual organs and the development of the personality. 4).Historically the labor has been split up according to gender and "thisdivision of labor is not quite unreasonable as long as labor resources arenot thereby rendered idle and intellectual and physical resources aremisused" (p. v). 142).Reaction When Alfred Adler was writing about his theories regarding sexualityand personality, he was ahead of his time. Although Adlerseems to side with those that are now termed "pro-life" advocates, herecognizes every woman's deep-seated need to have control of her self: We must never forget how deep is in each woman the protest against the inequality with men. In Chapter Four, Adler discusses his views on love, marriage, and theproper way to prepare children for their adult roles in life. 27), he discussesthe need to procreate in society, the effect of having an abortion on thewoman in question, possible selfish motives for not having children, andthe ultimate right of every woman to not have children. Ansbacher ends this compilation with a letter that Adler wrote to hisdaughter, congratulating her upon her upcoming marriage. They compulsion of a law created by men through which women are robbed of the free decision regarding their fate must be felt by every woman as a humiliation. New York: W.W.Norton & Company. 5). Adlerasserts that even at a young age, the impressions a child has of others inhis or her family of the opposite sex, effects not only who he or she willphysically be attracted to, but also how he or she will react to thatperson (p. According to Adler,masculine protest develops when a person is uncertain of his or her owncompetence and so vacillates between the "inferior" feminine tendencies ofanxiety and related phenomena and the "superior" masculine tendencies ofaggression and compulsion phenomena. For that reason it is important that parents preparetheir children for the task of love and marriage and teach them that the"fullest and highest development of the individual in love and marriage canbest be secured by monogamy" (p. His discussions on theinequality that women experienced in society and how they react to thatinequality both consciously and subconsciously were groundbreaking.Additionally, the idea that marriage is a life long task that needs to beworked on between two equal partners is an idea that is timeless and isoften forgotten in the current climate of instant gratification. The tensioncreated in this struggle has had long lasting effects on children of bothsexes as well as adult women in society. InAdler's opinion, the size of an individual's sexual organs and how theydevelop is directly related to their reaction to the environment aroundthem (p. In Adler's section on "the problem of abortion" (p. 99). 3 ). As little girls grow to be adult women, this attitude effects them indifferent ways. Adler asserts that sex education should remain in the family and thatany questions children have regarding sex should be answered simply andhonestly (p. Forexample, Adler refers to homosexuality, which has been proven to naturallyoccur in 1 % of the population, as a neurosis brought upon by narcissismand autoeroticism on the part of males, and extreme rebellion against theinequality of men and women when referring to lesbians (p. Women's sexuality and the tendency for women to be "frigid"even when their sexual organs are healthy is puzzling to Adler, though headmits this could be one more reaction to their inequality with men (p.83). L. 99). In Chapter Two, Adler uses masculine protest, and how it is exhibitedin mental health, as a means of critiquing Freud. 1 ). 5). Adler alsoassumes that masturbation, although now considered a normal part ofexploring one's sexuality as a youth and a normal release of sexual tensionas an adult, to be neurotic behavior and discouraged in the adult human (p.56-6 ). 15). &Ansbacher, R. She is not a person striving tobe a productive human on this planet, nor a single straight person on herown, nor a single lesbian, and certainly not a lesbian with a committedlife-partner. Because the division of labor has split along gender lines, there hasbeen a division of power that weighed in heavier on the side of the male.This has caused a tension between the sexes, says Adler, where menconstantly strive for superiority over women and women, dissatisfied withmale privilege, continually fight for equal footing (p. Finally, althoughAdler asserts that he is arguing for equality between the sexes, he doesnot allow the female to express herself outside of the traditionalmonogamous relationship. References Adler, A. 41). 78). Chapter One, titled "The Myth of Women's Inferiority," discusses thedivision of labor and sexual dimorphism, the cultural situation at the timeof the writing, effects of the myth on women and children, and a briefessay on the question of birth control and abortion. In effec, Adler has kept her in the role that he is tryingto free her from. v).Furthermore, Ansbacher believed that since Adler believed in the unity ofthe personality, "a presentation of his sexual theories will be practicallyan introduction to his theory of personality as a whole" (p. In this letter,Adler discusses his belief in marriage as a life long task to be undertakenseriously and with joy. Adler asserts thatdivision of labor is necessary for the preservation of human society, andthat "every person must fill a specific place at some point" (p. Ifsome one refuses to fulfill his or her obligation to society byparticipating in the division of labor then he or she can be seen to beanti-social. He carefully admonishes both daughter and futureson-in-law to not become subordinate to one another, but to treat eachother equally, always (p. Yet othersresign themselves to always being inferior to men in society (p. 142). However,many of Adler's ideas are so out of date that they would be offensive iffound in a current book or periodical about sexuality and personality. For example, personality traitssuch as aggression and competition are seen as masculine traits and arerewarded or tolerated in little boys as normal masculine behavior. Edited and translated by Ansbacher, H. v).Accordingly, Ansbacher has set up this book to cover those dilemmas in fourchapters that discuss the myth of women's inferiority, masculine protestand a critique of Freud, sexuality, and love and marriage. Furthermore, children should be treated equally withinthe home, no matter what gender they are (p. Whereascooperation and obedience, which are skills that must be used as an adultin everyday life, are traits that are encouraged in little girls and boysare often ridiculed for such behavior (p. Some women develop nervous disorders and retirefrom society so that they remove themselves from the struggle. In extreme cases this can lead to a life of crime (p. (1978). Review Cooperation Between the Sexes (1978) is a compilation, edited andtranslated by Heinz Ansbacher, of writings by Alfred Adler on sex,feminism, love, marriage, and what those entail in the realm of psychology.According to Ansbacher (1978), Alfred Adler's theory of sexuality "is bestcharacterized as the opposite of the Freud's" (Ansbacher, 1978, p. Additionally, he refers to nocturnal ejections, again, a normalpart of growing up and male sexuality as "nocturnal pollutions," assumingthat these are bad occurrences that need to be avoided. In sum, Alfred Adler was a man who put forth manybreakthroughs in his time, but society has since moved beyond to greaterunderstanding on human sexuality. He does not discuss the role of the female asanything other than a wife and a mother. To Adler, sex, social relations, and work were the three greatestproblems in life that a person must face (Ansbacher, 1978, p. Some women become "masculine" and choose to try to competewith men on male terms.

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