Adlerian Theory Rediscovered!

Transcription

1 Adlerian Theory Rediscovered Application of a Systemic Paradigm Adlerians in Ontario Teleseminar January 26, 2012 With Linda J. Page, Ph.D. 1

2 Preview of this session Alfred Adler lived from 1870 to 1937 Are his theories out of date? Are his ideas forgotten outside of small groups of "followers"? Is there a future for Adlerian Psychology?

3 Then: mechanistic; Now:systemic 2

4 Adler was at the beginning of this shift Phenomenology Social Embeddedness YOU are unique Cybernetics Holism 4

5 Paradigm shift During second half of 20 th century From mechanistic to systemic worldview Neuroscience largely supports shift Examples to follow Simplified Not either/or 3

6 Elements of the shift But first, some caveats: Examples are simplified Systemic doesn t replace mechanistic Question is which perspective to use when 5

7 "We refuse to examine an isolated human being"...alfred Adler

8 From individualism to community 6

9 Major Insight of 20 th Century Physics Relationships are more fundamental than things. 7

10 Globalization reveals Western individualis m is an extreme cultural expression 8

11 Our brain is social doesn t produce mind; it enables participation. (Brothers) 9

12 Trust only movement....alfred Adler

13 From reductionism to holism 10

14 Brain/body Brain is distributed throughout body 11

15 Anything can be different....alfred Adler

16 From objectivity to experiencing 12

17 Emotions, meaning, values, goals All subjective, important to learning People without emotions cannot make decisions We remember stories Observer changes what is being observed Participating observer (Stapp) 13

18 Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations....alfred Adler

19 From determinism to constructivism 14

20 Ongoing process Our minds use our brains to create themselves (Siegel) Sharing ideas opens new possibilities Experience shapes perception, which shapes what we can imagine (Berns) 15

21 No task is an impossible task when it is seen as a common task....rudolf Dreikurs

22 From hierarchy to collaboration 16

23 Collaborative leadership Not new Lewin s research in 1940 s People engage with what they create Leadership for everyone Human brain sensitive to status & autonomy threats (Rock & Page) 17

24 The educator must believe in the potential power of his pupil, and he must employ all his art in seeking to bring his pupil to experience this power....alfred Adler

25 From surviving to potentiating 18

26 Accentuate the positive Adler s encouragement Solution-focused therapy Broaden & build & 3-to-1 ratio (Frederickson) Neuroplasticity & neurogenesis no end point to our potential 19

27 Then: Mechanistic, Now: Systemic From individualism to community From reductionism to holism From objectivity to experiencing From determinism to constructivism From hierarchy to collaboration From surviving to potentiating (Rock & Page) 20

28 Adler was a systemic thinker in a mechanistic world Are his ideas out of date? Is his approach forgotten? Is there a future for Adlerian Psychology?

29 I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells. Dr. Seuss 76

30 THANK YOU 79

31 Recommended Reading Sharon Begley, Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves, Ballantine Books, Gregory Berns, Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently, Harvard Business Press, Leslie Brothers, Mistaken Identity: The Mind-Brain Problem Reconsidered, State University of New York Press, Norman Doidge, The Brain That Changes Itself, Penguin Books, Barbara Frederickson, Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive, Crown, 2009 David Rock and Linda J. Page, Coaching with the Brain in Mind: Foundations for Practice, John Wiley & Sons, Stephen Rose, The Future of the Brain: The Promise and Perils of Tomorrow s Neuroscience, Oxford University Press, Jeffrey Schwartz and Sharon Begley, The Mind & The Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force, Harper Collins, Daniel Siegel, Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation, Bantam, Henry Stapp, Mindful Universe: Quantum Mechanics and the Participating Observer, Springer,

32 Linda J. Page, Ph.D. President Adler Graduate Professional School Cultivating innovation, integration, & inspiration for the we in thou 890 Yonge Street, 9 th Floor Toronto, Ontario M4W 3P ljpage@adler.ca 81