According to Adler there are numerous approaches to understanding man, his soul, and how he conducts himself in the world. Below are the main 5 principles:
- We are social beings, and our physical and psychological survival is dependent on our relationships with others. This social need is also seen when we want to belong to a group and feel like we are contributing. When people require my assistance, it means that I play an important role.
- What is the goal? Adler describes life as being constantly in motion. We move from place to place and must always be somewhere. We’re always heading to a direction. The individual must be aware of his or her objective. When we understand a person’s goal, we can understand him. What do you believe your child’s goal is?
- Your Choice – Even if we tell our child what his goal is, he will ultimately decide what to do. The individual has the right to choose “free choice” or “self choice”/I have the ability to choose who I will become and what I will do.
- Adler views the human being as a whole. He argued that we cannot separate a human being. This model is associated with the other principles of choice and purposefulness/goal. The purpose/goal is what creates the whole.
- Subjective/your reality– Everything we say is subjective and can be correct or incorrect depending on our point of view. So, even if I say something that is correct in my reality and point of view, it may not be correct in the eyes of another person.
