The Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler: Journal articles : 1931-1937

Book excerpt: Adler's journal articles, written between 1931 and 1937, encapsulate the most mature expression of his ideas on theory and practice. Of the twenty-eight articles included in this volume, five are devoted to child development: selection of symptoms, consequences of pampering, prevention of delinquency, and education. Another five cover theoretical issues: self-consistent unity of personality, structures of psychic activity, striving for superiority, and social interest. In three articles about psychopathology, he addresses the neurotic's character, symptoms, and picture of the world, as well as the prevention of neurosis; five more articles contain his ideas on compulsion neurosis, fear of women, alcohol and drug abuse, the mind-body connection, and psychosomatic disturbances. He offers practical diagnostic guidance in two articles about family constellation and earliest recollections. Finally, he provides a dramatic comparison to psychoanalysis, and then a rare insight into the technique of psychotherapy. This volume is an essential resource for anyone wishing to gain an in-depth understanding of Adler's remarkable, timeless insights into human nature and their yet-to-be-realized potential. -- Provided by publisher.