Adlerian Theory Rediscovered - ONSAP Theory Rediscovere… · Adlerian Theory Rediscovered!...

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© 2010 Adler School of Professional Studies Inc. www.adler.ca 1 Adlerian Theory Rediscovered Application of a Systemic Paradigm Adlerians in Ontario Teleseminar January 26, 2012 With Linda J. Page, Ph.D.

Transcript of Adlerian Theory Rediscovered - ONSAP Theory Rediscovere… · Adlerian Theory Rediscovered!...

© 2010 Adler School of Professional Studies Inc.

!!! www.adler.ca!

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Adlerian Theory Rediscovered!

Application of a Systemic Paradigm!

Adlerians in Ontario Teleseminar!January 26, 2012!

With Linda J. Page, Ph.D.!

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• Are his theories out of date?!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?

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Then: mechanistic; Now:systemic

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Adler was at the beginning of this shift

• Phenomenology!

• Social Embeddedness!

• YOU are unique!

• Cybernetics!

• Holism

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Paradigm shift

During second half of 20th century!

• From mechanistic to systemic

worldview!

• Neuroscience largely supports shift!

• Examples to follow!

– Simplified!

– Not either/or

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Elements of the shift

But first, some caveats:!

Examples are simplified!

Systemic doesn’t replace mechanistic!

Question is which perspective to use

when

"We refuse to examine an

isolated human being"...Alfred Adler

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From individualism to community

!

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Major Insight of 20th Century Physics

!

!

Relationships are more fundamental!

than things.!

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Globalization reveals

Western individualis

m is an extreme cultural

expression

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“…doesn’t

produce

mind;!

it enables

participation.”!(Brothers)

Our brain is social…!

Trust only movement....Alfred Adler

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From reductionism to holism

!

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Brain/body!

Brain is distributed throughout

body!

Anything can be

different....Alfred Adler

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From objectivity to experiencing

!

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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)!

! ! ! ! ! !

Meanings are not determined

by situations, but we determine

ourselves by the meanings we

give to situations.!

!...Alfred Adler

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From determinism to constructivism

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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)

No task is an impossible

task when it is seen as a

common task....Rudolf Dreikurs

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From hierarchy to collaboration

!

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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)!

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

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From surviving to potentiating

!

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Accentuate the positive

• Adler’s encouragement !

• Solution-focused therapy!

• “Broaden & build” & 3-to-1 ratio!(Frederickson)!

• Neuroplasticity & neurogenesis—no end point to our potential!

!

! !

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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)

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?

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

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!

!

THANK YOU

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Recommended Reading

Sharon Begley, Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves, Ballantine Books, 2007.!Gregory Berns, Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently, Harvard Business Press, 2010.!Leslie Brothers, Mistaken Identity: The Mind-Brain Problem Reconsidered, State University of New York Press, 2001.!Norman Doidge, The Brain That Changes Itself, Penguin Books, 2007.!

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, 2009.!Stephen Rose, The Future of the Brain: The Promise and Perils of Tomorrow’s Neuroscience, Oxford University Press, 2005.!Jeffrey Schwartz and Sharon Begley, The Mind & The Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force, Harper Collins, 2002.!Daniel Siegel, Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation, Bantam, 2010.!Henry Stapp, Mindful Universe: Quantum Mechanics and the Participating Observer, Springer, 2007.!

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!!! www.adler.ca!

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Linda J. Page, Ph.D.