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Home > Fundamental Concepts > Normal vs. Abnormal (Health vs. Pathology) > Useful vs. Useless Side of Life

Useful vs. Useless Side of Life

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Note: Page numbers enclosed in parentheses are citations from The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler: A systematic presentation in selections from his writings. (H. L. and R. R. Ansbacher, Eds.). © 1964, Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc. Used by permission of Perseus Books Group.

Individuals who operate on the useful side of life cooperate with the community, at once advancing themselves and the community toward improved adaptation. Those on the useless side of life operate in ways that are obstructive of or antithetical to the interests and well-being of the developing human community for the sake of what they mistakenly believe to be personal advantage.

             The really important differences of conduct are . . . those of . . . useful and useless. By useful I mean in the interests of mankind generally. The most sensible estimate of the value of any activity is its helpfulness to all mankind, present and future, a criterion that applies not only to that which subserves the immediate preservation of life, but also the higher activities such as religion, science, and art. It is true that we cannot always decide what is strictly worthwhile from this point of view. But [the more] . . . we are guided by the impulse to act usefully. . . .  the nearer we approach to true perception (Adler, 1964, p. 78).

There is only one reason for an individual to side-step to the useless side: the fear of a defeat on the useful side (p. 157).

             Only those are able to muster the courage to advance on the useful side who consider themselves a part of the whole, who are at home on this earth and in this mankind (p. 159).

They [the neurotic and criminal] have lost courage . . . to proceed on the useful side of life. . . . They have turned away from the real problems of life (p. 255).

[Striving] can take place in a satisfactory way and can lead to a proper feeling of worth only on the useful side, in the developed social interest where the individual senses himself as valuable. Valuable can mean nothing other than valuable for human society (pp. 254-255).

 

© Griffith, J., & Powers, R. L. (2007).  The Lexicon of Adlerian Psychology:  106 terms Associated with the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler (2nd ed.). Port Townsend, WA: Adlerian Psychology Associates (p. 104).

Definitions of concepts are used by permission of Jane Griffith. A comprehensive list of concepts and definitions can be found in The Lexicon of Adlerian Psychology: 106 Terms Associated with the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler by Jane Griffith and Robert L. Powers, available for purchase on Amazon.com.  

Reference 

Adler, A. (1964). Problems of neurosis. (P. Mairet, Ed.). New York: Harper & Row. (Original work published 1929)


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Resources

Adlerian Psychology, Leadership and Organizational Development Part 1 of 2
This co-led, in depth forum on Leadership and Organizational Development focused on bringing concepts of Adlerian Psychology into organizational work. Time- 1:15:42.

This co-led, in depth forum on Leadership and Organizational Development focused on bringing concepts of Adlerian Psychology into organizational work. Drs. Jay Colker and Paul Fitzgerald brought years of organizational consulting experience and Adlerian based training to the forum which provided real world illustrations into the discussion. Adlerian concepts of belonging, horizontal movement, useful behavior, and more are brought up in regard to this topic.


Added By: VinceMessina
Areas of Focus: Useful vs. Useless Side of Life, Belonging , Horizontal vs. Vertical Planes of Movement , Felt Minus and Felt (Fictional) Plus, Paul Fitzgerald, Leadership/Organizational, Individual Psychology/Adlerian Psychology, Jay Colker
Resource Type: Video
Direct Link to this Resource

Adlerian Psychology, Leadership and Organizational Development Part 2 of 2
The second part of a co-led, in depth forum on Leadership and Organizational Development focused on bringing concepts of Adlerian Psychology into organizational work. Time- 1:19:44.

This co-led, in depth forum on Leadership and Organizational Development focused on bringing concepts of Adlerian Psychology into organizational work. Drs. Jay Colker and Paul Fitzgerald brought years of organizational consulting experience and Adlerian based training to the forum which provided real world illustrations into the discussion. Adlerian concepts of belonging, horizontal movement, useful behavior, and more are brought up in regard to this topic. Colker and Fitzgerald use open-forum counseling to help resolve a real organizational problem in this second half of the forum.


Added By: VinceMessina
Areas of Focus: Useful vs. Useless Side of Life, Belonging , Horizontal vs. Vertical Planes of Movement , Felt Minus and Felt (Fictional) Plus, Paul Fitzgerald, Leadership/Organizational, Individual Psychology/Adlerian Psychology, Jay Colker
Resource Type: Video
Direct Link to this Resource

Useless to Useful: Moving Family Members from Discouragement to Belonging, with Calvin Armerding. Moderated by Marina Bluvshtein
Adler (1964) wrote that “the really important differences of conduct...are those...of useless and useful” (p. 78). When family members are discouraged about having a place of significance on the "useful side of life," they shift towards problematic ways of living. This presentation will suggest a method of encouragement to help discouraged family members reorient through community feeling. Implications for marriage, parenting, and intergenerational relationships will be addressed.


Added By: chilliard
Areas of Focus: Parenting Style and Psychopathology, Useful vs. Useless Side of Life, Parenting
Resource Type: Video
Direct Link to this Resource
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