Male youths ages 13-18 incarcerated at two minimum security detention facilities participated in a program to determine if Alfred Adler's concept of social interest could be developed through group interactions led by non-professionals. The youths answered a self-report attitudinal scale, the Sulliman Scale of Social Interest and were rated by their classroom teachers on the Behavior Dimensions Rating Scale as pre-test measures. Volunteers from a liberal arts college sociology classes were randomly assigned to work in male-female pairs over a ten week period of time with the experimental population. These pairs led their constant group of incarcerated youths in ninety minute discussion sessions once per week for the duration of the program. Structured human relations exercises specifically designed to encourage elements of social interest; belonging, cooperation, and significance were assigned for each of the sessions. At the end of ten weeks, the youths in the experimental groups and the control population were tested again on the two scales. The results of Pearson Product Moment Correlations Test indicated no relationship between attitude and behavior for either the experimental or control groups on the pre-test and the post-test. A Mann Whitney U t-test indicated a highly significant increase in the social interest of the experimental group at the end of the program. While the control group showed no change over the course of the ten weeks, those who participated in the developmental groups increased their scores on the Sulliman Scale of Social Interest by an average of 12 points. Another Mann Whitney U t-test indicated that there was no difference between the social interest of Caucasian and non-Caucasian youths.

Summary in German and English / This paper examines responsibility in the counselling field as practised in therapeutic counselling at the TS Institute in Neuendettelsau with the help of the applied individual psychology of Alfred Adler. Against the background of the historical development of poimenics and the correlational approach of Paul Tillich, it will prove that counselling can benefit from psychology. The main elements of the paper then deal with the question of whether the personal responsibility of the individual is suitable as the basis of individual psychology in Christian counselling. The definition of and thinking behind responsibility have changed: Behind the apparently ethical and noble pretence of bearing self-responsibility, ‘personal responsibility’, which requires interaction between oneself and the other, pales. Due to advancing individualism, people seem to feel overloaded and seek relief in determinative or ‘causalmechanistic’ thinking. In contrast, Adler largely distanced himself from determinism in his ‘applied psychology’. The basis of his thinking is evidenced in a conclusion on his philosophical research into Husserl and Vaihinger, as well as those he draws from the teaching of psychoanalysis and evolution. The theological debates surrounding the change in self-responsibility focus on the definitions of the ethics of conviction and responsibility introduced into the discussion by Max Weber. Whilst Adler did not intend to consciously integrate Christian thinking into his therapy, this study shows that, against the background of Genesis 2 and the theologians Bonhoeffer, Pannenberg and Brunner, it demonstrates a clear analogy with biblical- Christian thinking. Personal responsibility can therefore be regarded as suitable for the poimenics in applied individual psychology. This is demonstrated by examples of responsibility counselling in today’s penal system. / Diese Arbeit untersucht die Verantwortung in der Seelsorge, wie sie in der Therapeutischen Seelsorge des TS-Institutes Neuendettelsau mithilfe der angewandten Individualpsychologie Alfred Adlers praktiziert wird. Auf dem Hintergrund der geschichtlichen Entwicklung der Poimenik wird mithilfe des korrelationalen Ansatzes Paul Tillichs belegt, dass Seelsorge von der Psychologie profitieren kann. Die Hauptteile der Arbeit befassen sich dann mit der Frage, ob die Eigenverantwortung des Individuums als Basis der Individualpsychologie für die christliche Seelsorge geeignet ist. Begriff und Verständnis von Verantwortung haben sich gewandelt: Unter dem scheinbar ethisch edlen Vorwand „Selbstverantwortung“ zu tragen, verblasst die Eigenverantwortung, die wesenhaft einem Du die Antwort schuldet. Infolge fortschreitendem Individualismus scheint der Mensch sich überfordert zu fühlen und sich mithilfe determinierenden oder kausalmechanistischen Denkens zu entlasten. Im Kontrast dazu ist Adler in seiner Gebrauchspsychologie weitgehend vom Determinismus abgerückt. Die Grundlagen seines Denkens werden nachgewiesen in einer Konklusion seiner philosophischen Forschungen über Husserl und Vaihinger, seinen Schlüssen aus den Lehren der Psychoanalyse und der Evolution. Die Theologischen Auseinandersetzungen um die Veränderung eigenverantwortlichen Handelns fokussieren die von Max Weber in die Diskussion eingebrachten Begriffe der Gesinnungs- und Verantwortungsethik. Obwohl Adler nicht bewusst christliches Denken in seine Therapie integrieren wollte, wird auf diesem Hintergrund mit Genesis 2 und den Theologen Bonhoeffer, Pannenberg und Brunner ganzheitliche Verantwortung deutlich und eine Nähe zu biblisch-christlichem Denken aufgezeigt. Damit kann die Eigenverantwortung in der angewandten Individualpsychologie für die Poimenik als geeignet gelten. Dies wird an Beispielen der Verantwortungsseelsorge im aktuellen Vollzug dargestellt. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

There is scant research concerning youth development programmes specifically from Adler's (1968) Individual Psychology perspective. Current programmes seem to be void of critical issues that are important in the local context because of their having a strong bias towards the Western perspective. Thus, the present research project sought firstly to assist the Previously Disadvantaged Youth (PDY) to develop constructive lifestyles characterised by self-mastery, encouragement, creativity and social interest. Secondly, it aimed to obtain specific local African input that would help expand the current Personal Life Planning Programme (PLPP) to one that addresses the unique needs and circumstances confronting South African PDYs today. Finally, it attempted to test the validity, scope and merit of Adler's theoretical assertion, within the context of the previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa, that all humans are engaged in a lifelong striving for superiority to overcome perpetual feelings of inferiority and life tasks. The latter objectives were addressed through the implementation of the PLPP. The study, as well as the related PLPP, is strongly founded on Adler's Individual Psychology (Adler, 1968; Ansbacher & Ansbacher 1956; Corsini & Wedding, 2005; Meyer et al., 2003; Prochaska & Narcross cited in Osborn, 2001). The relevant data were collected from a sample of matriculants from the PDY population living in a black township near Pretoria. The information was collected by means of the PLPP workbook; semi structured interviews, as well as, audiovisual equipment. A combination of a "Pre-structured Case Outline" and the related "Sequential Analysis" (Miles & Huberman, 1994, p. 85) was adopted, with the researcher undertaking the entire data management process. In addition to confirming the applicability of Adler's theory within the PDY context, the findings suggest that the research objectives were significantly met, i.e. the participants reported and displayed marked lifestyle improvements along with specific life skills development needs related to their deprivation. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Text in English / This qualitative psychobiographical study sets out to explore and describe the life of Sir Winston Churchill within the context of his lifelong experience with depression, his ‘Black Dog’. The aim of the research is to present a case for depressive realism with Churchill as the single case study. The reconstruction of Churchill’s life as a psychological narrative is contextualised within the theoretical framework of Alfred Adler’s Theory of Individual Psychology. Data was collated via biographical and life history material. Data was analysed by means of thematic analysis. Data trustworthiness and ethical considerations were adhered to. The findings of this study reveal that Churchill’s depression had positive gains of him striving to contribute to society, potentially demonstrating that depressive realism exists as a side-effect of depression. The significance of which, conceivably substantiates the idea that positive aspects of depression do exist, enabling a potentially more encouraging and constructive outlook for individuals suffering from depression. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Text in English / This qualitative psychobiographical study sets out to explore and describe the life of Sir Winston Churchill within the context of his lifelong experience with depression, his ‘Black Dog’. The aim of the research is to present a case for depressive realism with Churchill as the single case study. The reconstruction of Churchill’s life as a psychological narrative is contextualised within the theoretical framework of Alfred Adler’s Theory of Individual Psychology. Data was collated via biographical and life history material. Data was analysed by means of thematic analysis. Data trustworthiness and ethical considerations were adhered to. The findings of this study reveal that Churchill’s depression had positive gains of him striving to contribute to society, potentially demonstrating that depressive realism exists as a side-effect of depression. The significance of which, conceivably substantiates the idea that positive aspects of depression do exist, enabling a potentially more encouraging and constructive outlook for individuals suffering from depression. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)