Final answer:
Alfred Adler introduced several theories in his Adlerian psychotherapy, including the inferiority complex, the significance of social relationships, and the influence of birth order on personality. Adler’s individual psychology diverged from Freud by focusing on social motives and conscious decision-making rather than unconscious impulses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alfred Adler, a neo-Freudian, departed from Freud’s psychoanalytic views and developed his own school of thought, known as individual psychology. In contrast to Freud’s focus on sexual and aggressive urges, Adler emphasized the human drive to overcome feelings of inferiority and strive for superiority. This is encapsulated in his concept of the inferiority complex, where individuals feel inadequate and strive to attain a sense of worth. Adler’s views highlighted the role of social connections and the importance of societal contribution as a component of human development.
Furthermore, Adler's theories addressed the importance of birth order in shaping personality, proposing that each position within a family contributes to distinct personality traits. However, his birth order theory has not received conclusive empirical support.
Adler also proposed that life's essential challenges revolve around three fundamental social tasks: occupational, societal, and love tasks. He argued that our pursuit of these tasks is motivated by conscious social motives rather than Freud’s notion of unconscious sexual and aggressive impulses. Therefore, Adler’s work has led to a greater focus on the social aspects of personality development and laid the groundwork for the field of personality psychology.