January 2021 Issue
Letter from the Editors
Welcome to The Connection!
We are delighted and thrilled to present to you the new NASAP newsletter online.
Our recent poll revealed its new name: The Connection!
Thank you so much to our editorial team for working to make this transition a reality. And most of all, thank you to our contributors! We encourage your submissions to next month's newsletter. Please email us your submission by February 15th. Submission guidelines can be found here. We are interested in columns that address current events and represent the diversity of opinion that makes up our organization.
Click here to read our January Issue.
We’re looking forward to providing some amazing content this year!
In Solidarity,
The Editorial Team
The winner of the Newsletter Naming Contest is…
Erin Rafferty-Bugher, ATR-BC, LPCC
Erin is Associate Faculty, Advisor, & Field Experience Coordinator
at Adler Graduate School in the Art Therapy Department.
Erin received her MA in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute, Chicago in 1998.
Her professional clinical experience has included work with children and adolescents.
She is a mother of two strong girls, Addie and Grace, and dog, Finn.
”Connection is significant in all aspects of life!”
Regular Columns
President’s Address
Greetings fellow Adlerians,
On January 6th I was getting New York Times alerts on my phone and so decided to check things out on the live PBS Newshour broadcast which I knew had been scheduled for the Congressional debate. Watching the insurrection brought tears to my eyes which continued most of the day. My tears were not really about seeing a building being breached, as horrific as that was. I kept asking myself how my fellow citizens could be brought to this. How could my fellow citizens see our country so different than I? These thoughts led to tears. I know some people who may have been there or wanted to be there. One had told me several months ago that if necessary, he would lead the charge to defend America, even if it came to civil war. What does this say about our society, our country, our community?
Adlerians believe in cooperation. We believe in community. Above all, we believe in developing that sense of community, or social interest, which is incompatible with what we saw that Wednesday. It is social interest that enables us to look beyond our own self-interest and narrow perspective to better grasp the larger set of priorities. We need to feel we are ultimately on the same side and must work together for the betterment of all.
As Adlerians we seek to find ways to help everyone extend their self beyond their ego - through counseling and therapy, coaching, parent education, and education in schools. We have an approach and a perspective that is badly needed in our country and in the world. I ask all of our members to consider how we, individually and collectively, can work to spread the influence of our ideas out into society.
2020 was a terrible year: pandemic, wildfires, severe storms, a bitter push for social justice, and political unrest. We are a badly damaged country right now. All this can detract from the beauty of the world around us and its inhabitants, human and not. Adlerians are by nature and orientation optimists. We believe in the potential for social interest to bring us together and heal our wounds. But we can’t just sit back and wait for it to happen. We have to live our theory by reaching out to others in communion. It is my greatest wish that NASAP can function as a positive force behind the healing that is needed. Your Board, COR, and committees are all dedicated to this end. Please join us, and let us know if you have ideas for what more we can be doing.
Wellness for Life
by Lois Marecek
Shoelaces
Before we begin our journey, I need to address something I have been inadvertently remiss about. Some of you have reminded me that a certain element has been missing. Past columns would include examples of humor, calendar oddities, or unique points of interest. So I will make a point of including it more often. My apologies. Whew - sigh of relief — cleansing breath! Now, where were we? Oh yes - Shoelaces. Before some of your imaginations take hold and become the better of you, let me assure you I have not been tasting or nipping the sacrificial wine, spiked eggnog or hot toddies. Although Chai hot tea with extra cinnamon has been soothing. Being home a bit more than usual, some of us had an opportunity to take advantage of watching some of the holiday fare of TV shows, specials, and movies both new and old. There were a couple of movies that struck a chord with me. Yup, you guessed it, the first, a movie called “Shoelaces for Christmas”. A title like this was intriguing and tantalized my curiosity. The upshot movie ‘Cliff Notes’ — about a little girl who didn’t talk and who warmed up to a volunteer, — a self-centered teen, learning compassion. She verbalized the one thing she wanted for Christmas - shoelaces.
True, they do hold footwear together to assist in their functioning. However, when we delve deeper, they are much, much more. Symbolically, they represent a connection. As in the movie, the connection was between two young people discovering caring’ not only toward each other but life itself. Something that becomes timeless. The other movie is, “Last Holiday”. The film is loosely based on the 1950s British film of the same name by J. B. Priestley. This film stars Queen Latifah, who plays Georgia, a humble department store assistant who is mistakenly told that she has a rare brain condition and only has a few weeks to live. [Last Holiday (2006 film) - Wikipedia]. Georgia decides to live life to the fullest, making up for time lost by fulfilling some of the desires she never got a chance to experience both new and old. Along the way she demonstrates that she is true to herself, putting on no airs, being straightforward, and acting unencumbered. The outcome, reveals to the viewer how she touches all people she comes in contact with, consequently, is accepted for who she is. She continues to live life to the fullest after discovering the diagnosis was in error. As noted earlier, here are a few of those tantalizing oddities/points of interest. I got picked for this five-day-a-week, year-long sleep study. It pays $15,000 a month. It’s my dream job. punstoppable.com
A Humorous Peek into January
January 13 : Make Your Dream Come True Day:
An exceptional day for those following a dream. So get off your duff and put it into action to become a reality. cute-calendar.com [source: a number of Google sites]
January 21 : Squirrel Appreciation Day:
They have a positive side- • They plant a lot of seeds and nuts, dig up previously planted ones, and aerate your lawn with holes all at the same time. • Their chattering, tail-flicking, and treetop acrobatics can keep your kids entertained. • Research has shown that squirrels are far smarter than most people realize. Be forewarned: National Squirrel Appreciation Day is the same day as National Hug Day. Please Do Not confuse them! nwf.org
January 24 : Has a handful of note-worthy events. You can have fun honoring one, two, or all.
Compliment Day - is a national day of recognition and reminds us of the power of positive words. They express appreciation for something that's unique about a person or brings to their awareness something they did that you’d like to acknowledge. Belly Laugh Day - is globally recognized. Helps cleanse the body of negativity by filling it with positive energy that opens the door to creativity.
If you recall, I have a tendency to cite music every so often. That’s because I feel it uplifts the soul, the mind, and the body. You may feel the same. Think of that song — the lyrics, the melody, or both have a way of striking those heartstrings. Take advantage whenever you can.
Feeling Good
Song by Michael Bublé
Songwriters: Leslie Bricusse / Anthony Newley
Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
I'm feeling good ….
Stars when you shine
You know how I feel
Scent of the pine
You know how I feel
Oh, freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life ….
For me
And I'm feeling good ….
So as we begin the New Year, let it be one where shoelaces are applied by each of us with family, friends, and those we have yet to meet. A connection could be a simple gesture of smiling at the person in line with you at the grocery store or helping someone whose vehicle is stuck in the snow. Just as the lyrics from the song shows us that there are possibilities of creating and radiating ‘A New Day, A New Dawn, A New Life’ for each of us to discover and guide us in 2021. Until next time, stay well and hydrated. Warm Fuzzies, Lois
A Classic
Rocky Garrison, PhD
Adler (1937) thought “the discovery of the significance of early recollections is one of the most important findings of Individual Psychology” (p. 283). Originally published in 1929 as chapter 7 of Problems of Neurosis, this article seems to be some of Adler’s earliest published work on early recollections, which are “… most helpful in revealing what one regards as values to be aimed for and what one senses as dangers to be avoided” (p. 287). He recognized that the style of life exerts a selective influence over what is recalled, making it a powerful expression of that style of life. He noted a similar process in fantasy and other expressive behaviors, laying the foundation for the interpretation of play and artwork.
Adler (1937) mentions three common types of early recollections: (1) dispossession by a younger sibling, (2) an interest in movement, and (3) situations of danger, but makes it clear that the interpretation process is unique to each case. He does not support the blind interpretation of early recollections or their use as the sole assessment strategy. “To estimate its meaning, we have to relate the early pattern of perception to all we can discover of the individual’s present attitude until we find how the one clearly mirrors the other” (p. 284). This article contains several brief case studies that illustrate how an early recollection resonates with the history, current behavior, and/or symptoms of the person.
Author Information: Alfred Adler (1870 – 1937) the founder of Individual Psychology
Reference:
Adler, A. (1929/1937). Significance of early recollections. International Journal of Individual Psychology, 3 (4), 283-287. [Originally published in 1929].
Adler in Depth & Breadth
Erik Mansager, PhD
Neurotic Character as Device
Adler spoke a lot about the neurotic character over the course of his therapeutic career. It is a rich and complex construct; one whose dynamic is still helpful to our work today even though the term “neurotic” has morphed into useful and not-so-useful connotations.
For Adler, the neurotic can be distinguished by their world view and by interactions within the world. The view is one of anxiety, wishing, and expecting difficulties to be swept out of their way since they were not able to help themselves. The interaction with rests on a presumption of exemption for oneself, and obligation of another; for example:
· It has always been done for me, so, I’m entitled to have it now.
· You did it for me then, you must do it for me now.
· As you have done it and not taught me, I don’t know how to. Therefore, you must continue to do it for me.
Initially, in our clinical work, we don’t experience the character trait quite so clearly as this. Formulations like those shared above are examples of a clarifying process that comes forward in the clinical interaction.
Our clients themselves present as confused or frustrated or angry or pitiful and evoke a range of emotions in us as clinicians: our own sympathy, empathy, fear, pity, frustration, and sometimes anger. So, while we are wise to keep our “emotions in check even in difficult situations” (Adler as quoted in Stein, 2013, p. 103), we know emotions are perfectly harmonious with our clients’ fictional goal! Their impact on the clinician intends to coopt the clinician to aid in goal-attainment. By tuning in to our own emotional reaction, we can tune into the intention that the client unconsciously presents us – the direction and movement toward the client’s unconscious goal.
Such preparedness to understand client movement needn’t be confused with suspiciousness. Certainly, we are curious about the purposes of the client – and we are hungry for clues as to the unifying goal their movement tends-toward and that is aimed at in our interactions. We are curious, concerned, and caring toward them, “as with a friend whom we wish not to burden” (Adler, ibid.).
We want to understand the use our clients are making of our interaction to simplify their lives. Adler understood the effort to simplify life’s difficulties as the purpose behind every device. Device construction and utilization is something inherently human. “Simplifying life” is what guessing does for us, what art and discovery and invention provide us. These devices signal our attempts to sidestep insurmountable difficulty by solving smaller riddles before us.
In our interpersonal lives, Adler explained, we use other devices like metaphors, dreams, and principles – that all aim at simplifying life. Poets use metaphor to make a beneficial impact on someone with related images; dreams make movement easier by stoking emotions in a decided direction; our principles make life easier by exalting specific behaviors while ruling out others.
In this broad sense, it’s easy to understand the neurotic demand, “Care for me as I have become accustomed to!” as a device our clients use for simplifying their lives. By appreciating such neurotic movement, we can distinguish between the device that benefits others – among whom I can count myself and the device that serves only myself – at the expense of others.
Adler concluded that devices that are helpful to the community (like those mentioned above) are, at their foundation, full of reason which he described as having a sense of commonality, literally common sense. Devices that focus on personal benefit, derive from a private sense of life and intend to trick others.
So, at its base, the neurotic character is one of tricking others into meeting the needs of one; closed to personal responsibility, without interest in benefiting others. The neurotic character is intended to make life simpler for the individual without benefit to the community.
Our aim, our intention, as Adlerians in the depth-tradition, is to reveal the trick of neurotic character traits in a patient and friendly manner; to clarify the device in its trickery; to open the door back to the useful side of life. Adler reminds:
This cannot occur if the patient is not won over to cooperate and to be kind and if we fail to generate … a social interest directed toward helping others (ibid).
Dancing on the Waves
Xiaoxuan Qu, M.A.
Sailing Through Doctoral Studies
The year 2021 is here. I hope you have been able to chill out and connect with your loved ones in the holidays.
As I wrapped up my last semester, I saw that I had left Urie Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) The Ecology of Human Development on my computer’s desktop. I opened the e-book and started re-reading Bronfenbrenner's (1979) defined ecological settings in which development takes place—microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem. These broad systems embrace subsystems, ranging from home to school, from society to culture. Perhaps, Bronfenbrenner’s defined terms are unfamiliar to some of us, but his conceptualization is undoubtedly familiar to Adlerians. The reading beckoned me to wonder: How is the ecological perspective manifest in Adler’s Individual Psychology?
Flipping through Adler’s books, I hardly saw the use of the terms “ecology” or “ecological” in his linguistic description. However, the ecological perspective of human nature seems pervasive in his theory. Adler (1956) elaborated that Individual Psychologists should regard an individual’s life as a unity and utilize a whole class of devices for studying personality. To Adler (1929), these devices “all depend on the principle of using isolated parts for an interpretation of the whole” (p. 57). Concomitant with the concept of personality, unity is the necessitated consideration of social context. Adler (1956) taught us that, in addition to seeing an individual’s life as a unity, we must also consider its contextual social relations. Well, isn’t that ecological?
The ecological perspective is also apparent in understanding a person’s attitude toward others and external demands. What is one’s attitude toward their folks? How does one feel about the difficulties that they face? As Adler (2006) described, the Individual Psychologist’s task is to guess from the feelings and attitudes that one has. This constant guessing work is a learned second nature for Adlerians as they engage in counseling, therapy, and supervision. However, Adler (1929, 2006) cautioned us not to limit ourselves to one’s verbalized thoughts; instead, he taught us to look for all expressive movements, such as gestures and posture. Adler (2006) said that “the most important part of understanding a human being is understanding his movements” (p. 47). By looking for movements, we can recognize how individuals express themselves toward others and the demands from outside (Adler, 2006).
Regarding the external demands, Adler (1956) perceived them to be life tasks with which humans are confronted to overcome. “All these tasks are inseparably tied up with the logic of man’s communal life,” said Adler (1956, p. 128). In addition to the three commonly known life tasks—social relations, occupation, and love and intimacy, Adler (1956) also considered a broader scope, such as climate and economic demands. To act in harmonious equilibrium with the demands from the outside, Adler (2006) asserted that humans could not escape evolution. He claimed that the way humans solve life’s problems must be justified later by evolution. He believed that “each of us has to strive for a constructive, active adaptation toward life’s demands” (p. 44). In other words, “this striving for completion is incorporated into each life by evolution” (p. 44). Hence, evolution would not be possible without this social and constructive adjustment.
Speaking of life tasks, Adler (2006) claimed that “none of these problems can be solved without social interest” (p. 183). The concept of social interest, a.k.a. Gemeinschaftsgefühl in German, is a precious gift from him as a solution to meeting life demands and overcoming life difficulties (Adler, 1956). Adler (1956) firmly believed that human existence calls for a high degree of cooperation which demands social interest and effort. From this biological and evolutionary standpoint, Adler (1956) claimed that social interest is an innate potentiality which has to be consciously cultivated. What’s more, the concept of Gemeinschaftsgefühl is dynamic. Besides social interest as one English translation, other terms, such as social embeddedness and feeling of community, are present in Adler’s (e.g., 1929; 1956) translated writings. The breadth and depth of Gemeinschaftsgefühl can manifest itself in one’s attitude toward their neighbors; it can also be manifest in a deep sense of belonging and embeddedness within the stream of social evolution (Adler, 1929; 1956; 2006). And how much of an ecological perspective would that be?
Once again, Adler’s complex and dynamic theory has impressed me as I wrote up this piece. There are different ways that one could navigate through the interconnectedness within Individual Psychology. Interested readers who would like to engage in discussions are encouraged to drop emails at xqu108@syr.edu.
Take care. I look forward to meeting you here again.
References
Adler, A. (1929). The science of living. Lowe and Brydone Printers Ltd.
Adler, A. (1956). The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler: A systemic presentation in selections from his writings. (H. L. Ansbacher, & R. R. Ansbacher, Eds.) Basic Books.
Adler, A. (2006). The collected clinical works of Alfred Adler volume 12: The general system of Individual Psychology: Overview and summary of Classical Adlerian theory & current practice. (H. T. Stein, Ed.) Classical Adlerian Translation Project.
What’s the Story?
Les White
Early Recollections of U.S. Presidents: Summary of 11/1/2020 meeting
Read the entire synopsis here.
Thank you, all, who voted and participated in our November 1, 2020 meeting, “Early Recollections of U.S. Presidents.” Participants Zoomed in from California, Illinois, Canada, and the swing states of Georgia and Arizona.
Even though we may have a new president (elect), the old one is perceiving that many will continue to be entranced by the con going on, as was reflected in his ER! Yes, we read an ER of Trump’s in addition to those of Lincoln, LBJ, Jefferson, Adams, Grant, and hey, why not? Hitler, yes, Hitler!
(To learn more about Trump’s very revealing ER: you will have to read most of this summary! Just compare the reading of this to watching a TV show or soap opera with many “cliff-hangers,” like The Apprentice.) And which, if any, of the above presidents, (and dictator/megalomaniac – most brutal in history,) “fit the bill” and lived up to Alfred Adler’s idea of leadership? That is, one with:
“a strongly developed social interest (community feeling) ... an optimistic outlook, and sufficient self-confidence ... capacity for quick action ... ease in making contact with people .... In him (her/it/they!) becomes realized what other(s) dream about …. (This is the type who is) prepared for cooperation and contribution (and in whom) we can always find a certain amount of activity which is used for the benefit of others (Ansbacher, 1978, p. 31)”
Those of you not familiar with What’s the Story: we’re a book club with a twist.
Check out our website.
Updates
A Message from the Social Justice Task Force
Dear Fellow Adlerians,
I write to you from a place of relief to be a part of the Adlerian community when many days of anger, sadness, hopelessness, and confusion have dominated my thoughts in these recent months (dare I say years). In my experience thus far as an Adlerian, I have met generations of activists, therapists, teachers, learners, and family who have been dedicated to a life of Gemeinshaftsgefühl (social interest). There have been times I have witnessed and experienced some need for growth in our Adlerian community, but I have also seen the passion, openness, and dedication it takes to commit to growth in our community.
With that being said, I was not surprised by the recent actions in our greater community at the United States Capitol Building, which is being called an insurrection by many. I have turned on the news many times and witnessed the threats of democracy in countries around the world, blatant human rights violations, and the price people pay for power or to escape oppressive grips. Adler writes on the topic of prejudice and hostility that others will be “inclined to find something by which to degrade others” on their journey to “elevate himself at little cost.” My lack of surprise does not mean I don’t have emotional experiences about the events that happened, but I choose to take my emotions as motivation to encourage movement toward social interest. As an Adlerian in today’s world, I understand my role as someone who goes beyond the discussion of change and rather acts on the behalf of social justice change with awareness and vigor, which is defined as co-conspiracy in many circles. Adler wrote, “until mankind consents to take a step forward…these hostile trends [prejudice] must be considered…as the expression of general and erroneous human attitude.” Thus, I commit to continuing to take steps that show my attitude of social interest alongside my fellow Adlerians and denounce actions of oppression.
As an aspiring co-conspirator and proud Adlerian, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that I am a cis-gender, White woman whose privilege has allowed me to have times in my life in which I could not or would not understand how my actions or inactions contributed to systemic or direct contributions of racist, ableist, sexist, homophobic, or other oppressive actions. I know I will make missteps along the way, but our community cannot survive inaction or blatant errors. Doing the work of social justice advocacy and change is not easy, but like being Adlerian, it is a way of life. It’s not a single volunteer experience, but rather a lifestyle that may include volunteering. Thus, I understand how self-care balanced with caring for others is vital to being a co-conspirator and an Adlerian. As we grieve the murder of Black and Brown folx; change of political powers; losses of jobs or loved ones to COVID-19; disastrous floods and storms; unclean water; the brutality displayed toward one another; human rights violations; and many more tragedies, I encourage you to reflect on your own idea of what a socially just and interested community looks like. Then use your energy to take steps to create a community in which you want to live.
I end these thoughts with the hopes of walking and acting together with the courage to be imperfect, as Adler would encourage us to do. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” I look forward to witnessing how all of us engage in ways to raise our voices that contribute to a more just and socially interested society.
My sincerest well wishes and regards to you on this journey,
Elaine L. Carey, PsyD, MA, MSED
Social Justice Task Force member
& Secretary of the NASAP Board of Directors
What has the NASAP Board been up to?
I am pleased to report that the Board of Directors is a real working board. We meet once a month for 90 minutes on a Friday at 6:00 Eastern (although we did take December off), and we are engaged by email and text. Several items of importance were addressed at our last meeting on January 15. One, of course, was the upcoming conference. We are dealing with many contingencies created by the pandemic and our desired hybrid format such as safety, virtual formats and equipment, and pricing. We also agreed at this meeting to invest some funds in a new website and branding. The website hosting this Newsletter was approved at a previous meeting. We also had reports from every board member and from committee chairs on their work over the last month. I am happy to report that our budget is in good shape, committees are very active, and NASAP is on the move!
- Tim Hartshorne
Additional Submissions
Stop the Catastrophizing, Increase Hope & Gratitude,
and Embrace High-Frustration Tolerance!
By Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis
We, humans, have strength, resilience, capacity for cherishing life and for helping other people, other creatures, plants, and the environment.
How tragic then, when countless people do not realize the power that they have for doing so and do not accept that it is not outer events, but our views of such events, that create our emotional destinies.
One of the many brilliant offerings to humanity from Dr. Alfred Adler and Albert Ellis PhD was their encouragement of us to adopt healthy and life-affirming attitudes and behaviors, to keep ourselves steady and sane, and to help others.
I am one of NASAP’s adoptees!
Whenever I am at NASAP events, as well as when I am elsewhere in the company of my Adlerian friends, I feel I am loved, accepted, and home with family. I love and enjoy those friends and colleagues, and the precious moments spent with them.
My late husband, Albert Ellis who created Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), was a NASAP member, as am I. In writings and presentations, he regularly gave credit to Adler for the influence Adler’s work had on his work. As do I.
Adler and Ellis encouraged people to apply self-help techniques when adversity or challenges reared their heads. They didn’t want people to become unhealthily dependent on their therapists but wanted people to live lives that incorporated healthy thinking, healthy emotions, and social interest. Such encouragement is part of my mission too, and to that end, one of the activities I carry out and enjoy is writing pieces for Psychology Today from time to time. I do so to teach or remind, people to harness the abilities they have – when they choose to exercise them – to create healthy emotions when times are tough and challenges are intense.
It is my pleasure to add 2 links here to recent articles that editors of this newsletter invited me to share. Those pieces remind us that we create our own emotions, no matter how brutal the circumstances, and offer perspectives and suggestions that can help readers create life-enhancing emotions rather than debilitating ones. The articles offer some of the gifts of REBT, and as you read them I suspect that you will recognize some of the gifts of Adlerian Psychotherapy that are enfolded within them! If you enjoy them and want to read more, you can find additional pieces I wrote that are included in the “Articles” section of my website.
Here are the 2 links, I hope you’ll enjoy them and share them with others who might find them of interest!
The Healing Balm: Tolerating The Things We Don't Prefer
I wish each of you well, my precious NASAP family! Please stay safe and in good spirits, and may each of us remember each day the many things that we can be grateful for. There’s so much to “wow “ at if we choose to recognize the countless gifts around and within us. Life is such a profound experience, let’s do all we can to cherish it and to share our wonder and gratitude with others – despite and including the tough times we might sometimes face.
Jess Minckley © 2020
All Opinions Matter
Susan Pye Brokaw, LMFT
I am not a Democrat or a Republican. In fact, I dislike politics. I am an Adlerian. Therefore, I look at the current actions in our country through the Adlerian lens and I am very concerned. As Adlerians, we see everyone as having worth and being worthy of respect. We believe that we must respect others who have a difference of opinion and work together to find solutions.
Adlerians talk about the vertical and horizontal planes. On the vertical plane we feel inferior and, in our desire, to overcome these feelings we strive to be superior to others. The horizontal plane is where we need to be. On this plane, we recognize our own value and worth and the worth of all others as our social equals. We recognize that we have differing views. However, we respect one another, and we work collaboratively to find solutions.
What I am seeing right now is not Democrat vs Republican, but those on the vertical plane vs those on the horizontal plane. When people are told that they cannot give their opinion it demonstrates a belief that some are superior to others and that those others are not worthy to have an opinion. I think that differences of opinion are a good thing. When we hear all opinions so that we can do some critical thinking, we come up with the best solutions. Adler said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. What he was suggesting is that individually we can reach decisions but when we hear all opinions, we get the best solutions.
It is time for Adlerians to speak up. Do we want our children to believe that some are superior to others and only their opinions have value? When kids in college must seek counseling because they have heard something that is counter to their opinion, I am very concerned. They truly believe that they can’t handle hearing a view that differs from their own. I think that our country is in big trouble. When free speech is challenged it is only a matter of time before YOU are no longer allowed to have an opinion. We need to celebrate differences. We need to hear different opinions and consider the views of others. Then we need to make decisions that are best for all concerned to bring about peace, prosperity, health and safety for all.
Those on the vertical plane will accuse me of being political. I ask you to return to the roots of Adlerian psychology philosophy. Ask yourself, “How would the people of this country be behaving if they are on the horizontal plane?”.
Susan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in practice for more than 40 years.
She is a founder and past faculty of the Adler Graduate School in Minnesota.
“Trauma, Meaning in Life, and the Provencal Troubadours.”
Originally published in the International Association for Counselling E-Newsletter, December 2020
By Dr. Christopher Eriksson
North Halton, Ontario, Canada
Physicist, Life Coach, & Counsellor
International Association for Counselling
Author of Shakespeare and The God Virus, Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony.
Email Christopher here.
The current COVID pandemic has clearly added to the stress and trauma experienced by students and others worldwide. However, recent research indicates that more than one in two students were already entering university with a history of trauma that includes exposure to threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence (Read et al., 2011; Smyth et al., 2008). Less well known is the growing evidence that trauma can provide the opportunity for personal and social transformation (i.e., post-traumatic growth [PTG]; Grad & Zeligman, 2017).
The social psychology of use started by Alfred Adler around a century ago emphasizes that no experience in itself is a cause of success or failure. Meanings are not determined simply by situations or “the objective facts.“ We determine these ourselves, individually, by the opinions and meanings we give to these facts. Individuals who struggle to deal with trauma ultimately find meaning in their own suffering and thus experience growth and greater life satisfaction. It’s how we individually see things that influences outcomes, and these we can change. A strong sense of belonging and contribution in an intimate social group increases the tendency to engage in challenging situations and encourages the initiation of new, positive relationships (Herrington et al., 2005).
Grad and Zeligman (2017) reported that for college students who had experienced trauma, meaning in life (and particularly the presence of meaning, rather than the search for meaning) was the strongest predictor of post-traumatic growth. This supports Adler’s contention that perception and the meaning we give to an event are more consequential to us than just the event in itself.
Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004b) have reported on modern post-traumatic growth (PTG) as occurring in five distinct life domains: appreciation of life, social relationships, personal strength, spirituality, and new possibilities (Grad & Zeligman, 2017, p. 190-207). This corresponds to the growth and positive psychological change following trauma described by the medieval Provençal troubadours whose life histories I have been studying. These were idealistic songwriters, poet-musicians seeking an idealized form of love. They knew about trauma and disappointment and personal difficulties. But they also knew the importance of meaning in life. They saw their striving to live a more noble life as worthy, and of moral worth, so they kept going.
The Provençal Troubadour Goal - “Love Poet-Composer to a Lady of the Nobility”
The medieval practice of courtly love or refined love that was centred on the married woman of the nobility has been described as a spiritual force related to love and rejuvenation. (Chaytor, 1902, p. xxiii).
Romantic love played little or no part in medieval aristocratic marriages, so most husbands allowed their wives their circle of admirers. The troubadour composed musical love poetry for a married lady of the nobility with her husband’s permission, in the hope that she would accept his hommage and devotion. Love, in troubadour poetry, was essentially a conventional relationship and marriage was not its object. Troubadours suffered many rejections before their poetry was accepted. Not all the troubadours were from the nobility. Those from the merchant or lower classes could never be the social equal of the noble Lady they had chosen to honour. Historically, if their lyrical love poetry was not accepted and they took it too personally, they could become disheartened and be staring an early grave in the face. But they had chosen this life and seeing this as a noble cause for their own moral good, they accepted their difficulties and kept going to experience growth as Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004b) have described above for modern times. They knew that their self image and the meaning that they themselves gave to their lives was key, and that if they received a noble Lady’s approval with the possibility to become her official lover (meaning solely that they could send her lyrical love poetry in her honour) their self-esteem would be heightened and they would experience the love or happiness they were after.
Through their glorification of the married woman (single women were inconspicuous in this feudal medieval society), they contributed to raising the status of western woman to this day, as well as making a significant impact on European literature. “Ladies first” has been attributed to this troubadour movement which lasted around 200 years. They give historical support to modern social research that post-traumatic growth can have lasting social as well as personal benefits.
Relevance and Results
Viewing the self-directed learning and striving of these medieval poet-musicians as an allegory of modern life can assist modern students in a non-threatening way to ascribe meaning to their own traumas, so paving the way for new perspectives and insights.
References
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