Final answer:
Alfred Adler, diverging from Freud, directed his attention to understanding the human drive to overcome feelings of inferiority, introducing the concept of the inferiority complex and emphasizing the impact of social environment and culture on personality development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Freud vs. Adler's Focus in Psychology
While Sigmund Freud concentrated on the importance of childhood experiences and how they impact an individual's personality and behavior, Alfred Adler, a notable neo-Freudian, diverged from this path. Freud's perspective heavily considered the role of biological drives and psychosexual stages, but Adler chose to understand the human drive to compensate for feelings of inferiority which he termed inferiority complex. Adler's theory, known as individual psychology, looks at the striving to overcome perceived shortcomings and attain superiority as the primary motivating force behind human thoughts, emotions, and actions, marking a significant shift from Freud's sexual and aggressive urges narrative.
This fundamental difference highlights the distinctive perspectives within early psychological thought, with Adler emphasizing the social environment and effects of culture on personality development, deviating from Freud's focus on biological, particularly sexual, influences. Adler's viewpoint draws attention to the continuous effort humans make to achieve personal growth and overcome challenges, rather than being solely driven by unconscious desires rooted in childhood.