Final answer:
Alfred Adler believed that overcoming feelings of inferiority motivates individuals to strive for success and competence. His theory of individual psychology emphasizes the conscious drive to compensate for these feelings through personal and community growth. Unlike Freud, Adler focused on social rather than sexual or aggressive motives, seeing the quest for superiority as key to healthy human development.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Alfred Adler's view, the process of overcoming inferiority feelings motivates individuals to strive for success and competence. Adler's theory of individual psychology significantly diverges from Freud's ideas, focusing instead on social motives and the drive to overcome feelings of inferiority, which Adler believed are at the core of human behavior. Unlike Freud, who emphasized sexual and aggressive drives, Adler posited that striving for superiority is a primary motivator, propelling individuals towards personal growth, success, and the achievement of a community-oriented lifestyle.
This concept is part of what Adler described as an inferiority complex, where a person feels they don't measure up to the standards of others or society. His views also emphasize the importance of conscious over unconscious motivation, considering conscious efforts to be more influential in our quest for superiority. Adler saw the inferiority complex as a catalyst for personal development, pushing an individual to pursue goals and overcome inherent feelings of inadequacy. As people work towards these goals, they develop a stronger sense of self and community, which Adler saw as essential for overall well-being.