Address to the International Conference of the European Scientists’ Union: Some Contributions of Adlerian Psychology to Society

Introduction

There are few professionals who have been as successful in spreading the ideas of Individual Psychology in North America and Europe as Frank Walton. For decades he has demonstrated his clinical and educational skills in North America and Europe. This address by Dr. Frank Walton captures Frank’s ability to lecture to a high-level professional group on the principles of Individual Psychology.

One might ask why Frank has been so successful through the years. Is it his personality, his professional skill set, or some combination of both? To answer such questions, one of the coeditors reflected on his many hours of observing Frank lecturing and demonstrating his skills in the Baltic States, where both were presenting to psychologists and teachers. The estimated time of observation was 70 hours over a three-year period. From this extensive exposure of observing Frank in action, I began to see why Frank is so successful.

First, he skillfully applies the principles of Individual Psychology in the therapy process. Second, he possesses personality attributes that help him build rapport immediately with other people. These attributes include a contagious sense of humor, warmth, and social interest. There are few who would not be able to feel the caring Frank has for others when he presents or demonstrates his interviews with individuals and families. We as coeditors of the journal observed another critical component to his success: Frank makes the theory very understandable, whether he is talking to professors, therapists, or laypeople. Finally, regardless of the audience, Frank rarely deviates from the theory he learned from Rudolph Dreikurs and other Adlerians. Though the coeditors would have liked more formal empirical research in the lecture, we also acknowledge it is this lack of emphasis that makes his presentation of Individual Psychology principles more accessible and allows more time for focusing on the basis of the theory.

As you read the following presentation Frank gave to the International Conference of European Scientists in Bulgaria, a group unfamiliar with Individual Psychology, pay attention to the way he presents the principles in such an effective manner. Frank’s presentation is a clear picture of his use of the theory, and serves as one model for others to consider when presenting to lay professional groups.

Address to the International Conference of the European Scientists’ Union: Some Contributions of Adlerian Psychology to Society

Members of the European Union of Scientists and guests: I am honored and very pleased to be with you here today. I am here with you as a consequence of the work I have been doing at Trakia University.

My invitation to work with students and faculty members at Trakia University came about as a result of my being a member of the faculty of the International Adlerian Summer Institute. This two-week institute is held in a different country each summer. In July 2010, it will be held in Romania near Brasov. The institute, known by its initials as “ICASSI,” attracts participants from approximately 25 countries. The faculty is comprised of accomplished professionals from 10 to 15 countries; it was established by psychiatrist Rudolf Dreikurs in 1962. Dreikurs, a younger colleague of Adler, established the summer institute because of his dedication to spreading the teaching of Adlerian psychology to people around the world, not only as a psychological method of treatment, but as a philosophy of life (ICASSI, 2010).

Due to the participation of scientists from Trakia University in the activity of ICASSI in 2008 in Hungary and in the future summer session in Romania in 2010, the international university project titled “Model for Enhancing the Quality of Education at Trakia University” was realized.

Its success in education and research activity was achieved through the dedicated work of all participants and above all the support of the Rector of Trakia University, Prof. Ivan Stankov, and the president of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Ivan Bojkov. As a consequence of the success of the project Prof. Videv extended an invitation to me for honorary membership in the...