The Meaning of Neurosis According to Adler

This article aims to provide a clear, structured schema of the components of an “Adlerian neurosis.” In Adler’s concept, a neurotic person retreats from performing life tasks to avoid loss of self-esteem due to what the individual interprets as failure. This threat is based on a dialectic combination of inferiority feelings and striving for superiority. Retreating from performing life tasks can happen only with a poorly developed social interest, which, in turn, is usually connected with having been a pampered child. To maintain the illusion of the potential for high achievement, avoid inferiority feelings, and protect themselves from the guilt of not acting according to social interest, neurotics create excuses or symptoms. When all these factors exist, Adler considered the person neurotic.