Life-Style Assessment/Life-Style Diagnosis

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. 

The lifestyle assessment or life-style diagnosis is a structured inquiry into and interpretation of an individual's unique style of living. It is a major psychological assessment tool of Adlerian­trained therapists, combining the elements of psychotherapeutic confrontation, challenge, and guidance toward reorientation with diagnosis. The modern assessment inquiry is generally organized in two parts: (a) The family constellation, which includes family atmosphere and values, parental relationship, gender guiding lines, psychological birth-order vantage and sibling relationships, and the challenge of adolescence and gender identity; (b) the early recollections. The assessment interpretations may include three summaries: (a) The summary of the family constellation; (b) the pattern of basic convictions (derived from an interpretation of the early recollections); and (c) an enumeration of basic mistakes or interfering ideas. [See Sibling Rivalry (Competition).] 

According to my experience, so far the most trustworthy approaches to the exploration of personality are given in a comprehensive understanding of (1) the earliest childhood recollections, (2) the position of the child in the birth-order, (3) childhood disorders [Organ Inferiority; Overburdening Childhood Situations], (4) day and night dreams, and (5) the nature of the exogenous factor that causes the illness (pp. 327-328). 

            In a way we are like archeologists who find fragments of earthenware, tools, the ruined walls of buildings, broken monuments, and leaves of papyrus; and from these fragments proceed to infer the life of a whole city which has perished. Only we are dealing . . . with the inter-organized aspects of a human being, a living personality which can continuously set before us new manifestations of its own meaning (p. 332).

For life-style assessment guides, see Adler's original "Interview Guides" (pp. 404-409); Dreikurs, R. (1967), "Guide for Initial Interviews Establishing the life style," pp. 88-90; Eckstein, D., Baruth, L., & Mahrer, D. (1982); Powers, R. L. & Griffith, J. (1995); Shulman, B. H. & Mosak, H. H. (1988).

© 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. 62).

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. 

References 

Dreikurs, R. (1967). Psychodynamics, psychotherapy, and counseling. Chicago: Alfred Adler Institute.

Eckstein, D., Baruth, L., & Mahrer, D. (1982). Life style: What it is and how to do it. Dubuque, lA: Kendall-Hall.

Powers, R. L., & Griffith, J. (1995). The Individual Psychology client workbook with supplements. Port Townsend, WA: Adlerian Psychology Associates.

Shulman, B.H. & Mosak, H.H. (1988). Manual for life style assessment. Chicago: Alfred Adler Institute.