Adler stressed that our desire to strive for perfection is learned from our parents. A) True B) False
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: B) False
Explanation:
Alfred Adler, a prominent psychologist and founder of Adlerian psychology, emphasized the concept of the striving for superiority or perfection, but he did not say this desire is learned from our parents directly. Instead, Adler believed that striving for perfection or superiority is an innate psychological drive that develops within an individual as a fundamental motivation.
Adler’s theory suggests that every person has an inherent drive to overcome feelings of inferiority and to achieve personal growth, mastery, and fulfillment. This drive is often called the striving for superiority, which means an effort to improve oneself, achieve goals, and realize one’s potential.
However, Adler also acknowledged the significant role of social environment, including family and parents, in shaping how this striving manifests. The way parents raise their children — their values, attitudes, encouragement, or discouragement — influences the child’s style of life or unique way of pursuing these goals. But this influence is not the origin of the striving itself; it is the environment that shapes how it is expressed or channeled.
In contrast, other psychologists might emphasize parental modeling or learned behavior as the primary source of motivation, but Adler’s view is more about an intrinsic force within the individual, shaped by life experiences and social context.
In summary:
- The striving for perfection or superiority is an innate, internal drive according to Adler.
- Parents and family influence how this drive is expressed, but they do not create the drive itself.
- This motivation is part of human nature, not simply learned from parents.