Extending Individual Psychology Theory and Practice

This issue extends the theory of Individual Psychology with six articles that provide empirical and theoretical support for the ideas articulated by Alfred Adler, Rudolf Dreikurs, and others. In the peer-reviewed articles to follow, the authors display their passion for Individual Psychology and demonstrate its healing potential across various client populations. The first four articles examine Individual Psychology concepts with empirical methods, whereas the last two articles provide theoretical, clinical, and historical insights into Individual Psychology.

Yin Fung and Webster examined the mediating effects of social interest on perceived social support and mental health among 102 university students in their article “Perceived Social Support, Social Interest, and Mental Health: Testing a Mediator Mode.” They found a full mediation effect of social interest on the relationship between perceived social support and mental health.

Lamberson and Wester sought to extend the empirical definition of the construct inferiority feelings through their article “Feelings of Inferiority: A First Attempt to Define the Construct Empirically.” They examined the adequacy in describing inferiority feelings using previously validated constructs, specifically self-esteem, general self-efficacy (GSE), abstinence self-efficacy (ASE), and shame among a sample of 210 undergraduate college-student participants.

Dillman Taylor, Gungor, Blount, and Mullen examined the relationship between personality priorities and wellness levels among 237 counselors-in-training in their article titled “Personality Priorities and Perceived Wellness Among Counseling Trainees.” They discussed their findings among two particular subscales, pleasing and control, to predict the perceived levels of wellness in counselors-in-training. Even more encouraging, they found that the counseling trainees surveyed, on average, reported moderate to high levels of perceived wellness.

Alizadeh, Soleimani, Belangee, Nokani, Paast, and Kanisani expanded the international use of Individual Psychology through use of the BASIS-A Inventory in their article titled “Individual Psychology Lifestyle Traits and Pathological Narcissism in University Students in Iran.” Using a sample of 288 undergraduate students from four universities in Iran, they had participants take the Pathological Narcissism Inventory and BASIS-A Inventory and concluded that many lifestyle personality traits measured by the BASIS-A were correlated to PNI components.

Johansen presents a clinical piece on illness anxiety disorder titled “Illness Anxiety Disorder: A Proposed Adlerian Formulation.” The article provides an Individual Psychology formulation for this disorder and also describes how it contrasts with somatic symptom disorder. Last, the article discusses goals for therapy and treatment strategies that are indicated for this disorder.

The final article, written by Russian psychoanalyst Valery Leibin and translated by Marina Bluvshtein, is titled “My Remembrances of Heinz and Rowena Ansbacher and Alexandra Adler.” Leibin has spread the theory of Individual Psychology throughout Russia in various Russian psychology journals and trainings. Leibin frequently corresponded with Alexandra Adler and was also in close contact with Heinz and Rowena Ansbacher between 1979 and 1991. This article offers an interesting historical account of Leibin’s encounters with various Individual Psychology figures and also about information around Adler’s death in 1937.

In summary, all the articles in this issue extend the principles and concepts articulated by Alfred Adler. The next issue will emphasize the importance and promise of moving Adlerian Psychotherapy to evidence-based status.