Many people to this day are not familiar with the name of the renowned psychologist and philosopher Alfred Adler. His ideas, however, are not foreign to us. The same principles are at the core of the Constitution, as well as the Declaration of Independence, which the founders of the United States believed should be our guiding principles. Alfred Adler stressed the need to understand individuals within their social context. Alfred Adler graduated in medicine, in 1895 and established a successful medical practice near the well known Prater in Vienna.
In the early 1900’s Adler began addressing such crucial and contemporary issues as equality, parent education, the influence of birth order, life style, and the holism of individuals. His beliefs in the motivation to belong and goal-directed behavior led him to open a number of child guidance clinics throughout Austria, these later spread to Germany and other countries.
He wanted to take part in the school reform being carried out at that time, and proved, that this could be carried out by working with the child, the parents, and the teachers at the same time. He believed in the social equality of all human beings, regardless of race, position, class or gender. He also believed in fundamental, equal human rights even though we are not the same in many other respects. Both of these beliefs were, and are, revolutionary ideas.
