Approximately 20% of children experience serious mental health problems severe enough to meet diagnosis criteria, and less than one third of these children receive the services they need. Identifying effective school-based counseling interventions provides a viable and accessible solution, especially for families with financial barriers. This randomized, controlled outcome study examined the effectiveness of Adlerian play therapy (AdPT) compared to reading mentoring (RM) with 58 kindergarten through third grade students who qualified with clinical levels of disruptive behavior in the classroom. Participants were identified as 48% Latino, 33% European American, and 19% African American. Approximately four-fifths of participants were male. Children were randomly assigned to AdPT (experimental group) or RM (active control group) for 16 sessions of treatment. Children in both groups participated in twice weekly, individual, 30-minute interventions that took place in their schools. Results from a two (group) by two (repeated measures) split plot ANOVA indicated that, compared to the RM group over time, the AdPT group demonstrated statistically significant improvement on (a) disruptive behaviors in the classroom, as directly observed by objective raters and as reported by teachers, and (b) stress in the teacher-child relationship, as reported by teachers. Teachers and observers were blinded to children's treatment group assignment. AdPT demonstrated moderate to large effect sizes on all measures, indicating the practical significance of treatment. Further, 72% of children receiving AdPT improved from clinical/borderline levels of disruptive behavior problems to more normative functioning post-intervention, demonstrating the clinical significance of results. Whereas further research is warranted, results from this preliminary study are promising and support the use of AdPT in elementary schools to meet the needs of children exhibiting disruptive classroom behavior.

This study was designed to examine the relationship between selected Adlerian personality constructs and counselor effectiveness in a master's level practicum. In addition, the relationship between counselor age and counselor effectiveness was examined.

The Discouragement Scale for Adults (DSA) was developed to assess for the Adlerian construct of discouragement in adults age 18 years and over. Data were collected from three samples: norm (n=586), presumed discouraged (n=47), and parents of children with craniofacial anomaly (n=105). Five subscales corresponding to life tasks identified in Adlerian literature as work, love, society, self-significance, and spirituality underlie the 60 item DSA. Item selection was based on ratings by five notable Adlerians and item correlations with scale scores. Gender, age, and ethnicity norms were established for the norm, presumed discouraged, and craniofacial samples. Across three samples, no significant ethnic differences were found. Normative findings indicated females are less discouraged than males on the Total DSA, the society and spirituality subscales. Age findings indicated the 18-34 year old sample is more discouraged than other ages on the Total DSA, the work, society, and spirituality subscales. Presumed discouraged findings indicated females are less discouraged than males on the society subscale. Craniofacial findings indicated females are less discouraged on the society subscale, but more discouraged on the self-significance subscale than males. Age findings indicated the 18-34 year old sample is more discouraged than other ages on the self subscale. Research on CPA parents' relationship status, CPA child's birth order, parental role of adult to CFA child, length of time the parent has cared for CFA child, the CFA child's age, CFA parent's education level, and CFA child's craniofacial anomaly diagnosis was conducted. Findings indicated birthmothers are less discouraged than birthfathers on the society subscale, but more discouraged on the self-significance subscale. Internal consistency ratings of the DSA were .9392, .9496, and .9365 for three samples. Correlations to measures of social interest were negative and significant, reflecting an inverse relationship between discouragement and social interest. Factor analysis and interscale correlations are presented. Future research could include continued instrument validation and establishment of score ranges to indicate adult discouragement.

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Child Life Style Scale (CLSS) and clarify the underlying dimensions of the scale. Dr. Kathleen Stiles designed the 90 item CLSS to quantitatively identify life style typologies for children between eight and twelve. This questionnaire consisted of 6 scales based on Adlerian constructs of personality. They are pleasing, getting, controlling, rebelling, inadequacy, and socially useful. Ten items were deleted after an inter-judge reliability/validity study. The 80 item CLSS was administered to 314 third, fourth, and fifth graders in public and private schools in Dallas, Texas. Internal consistency coefficients for the six subscales ranged from .72 to .76 and test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from .70 to .80 (p < .001). Results from a factor analysis confirmed the original six scales but factors five and six were not strong. Exploratory factor analysis found four clear factors with internal consistency coefficients ranging from .76 to .84 and test-retest reliability coefficients ranging from .73 to .83 (p < .001). Underlying dimensions of the factors, which reflect Alfred Adler's four typologies exactly, were: Factor 1: Rebelliousness Factor 2: Social Usefulness Factor 3: Control Factor 4: Fear of Failure. Results of analysis of variance indicated that age and socioeconomics made significant differences while gender and place in the family were not as significant. This study showed the revised 64 item version of the CLSS reflects Adler's tenets exactly, and has a more concise format with better reliability and validity. The CLSS is a solid questionnaire worth being further investigated for use in schools and therapy.

This study was designed to examine Adlerian personality priorities of siblings of individuals with Tourette Syndrome (TS). This study aimed to investigate whether a difference exists between TS siblings and siblings of those without disabilities on variables related to personality priorities. It was hypothesized that TS siblings would score significantly higher than the control group on the superiority and pleasing personality priorities and significantly lower on the comfort and control personality priorities. Both of the hypotheses were rejected. First, no significant difference was found between TS siblings and the control group on the superiority and pleasing personality priorities. Second, no significant difference was found between TS siblings and the control group on the comfort personality priority, and TS siblings scored significantly higher than the control group on the control personality priority.

Serial crime is an element of society that continues to disturb and fascinate scholars. There is thus a need to understand the uniqueness of serial murderers and their psychological development. The field of psychobiography is a qualitative approach to uncover the story of an individual life through greater understanding of psychological concepts. Psychobiographical research is invaluable in the application of theory to the finished lives of exemplary or enigmatic individuals to develop and test theories of human development. Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer (1960 – 1994), a cannibalistic serial killer who killed 17 young men, served as the single psychobiographical subject in this study. Dahmer was selected based on interest value, his uniqueness and the lack of a specifically academic and psychologically focused case study on his life. A qualitative psychobiographical research method was utilized in this study. The primary aim of the research was to explore and describe Jeffrey Dahmer’s personality development across his lifespan. This was achieved by applying Erikson’s (1950) psychosocial theory of staged developmental crises to the lifespan developmental process and Adler’s (1929) dynamic individual psychology to provide a more comprehensive idiographic interpretation of Dahmer as an individual. Jeffrey Dahmer’s life history was uncovered in this psychobiographical case study research through the systematic and consistent collection, analysis and interpretation of life history materials, which highlighted five significant historical periods: (a) Childhood of Fantasy, (b) The Quiet Loner, (c) Hiatus – or Build-up, (d) Seeking a Compliant Partner and (e) Arrest, Trial and Death. The two theoretical frameworks were used to discern, transform and reconstruct his life into a coherent and illuminating narrative of his psychological movement through life. Alexander’s (1988) model of identifying salient themes was used to analyze data for analytical generalization (Yin, 1994). A conceptual framework derived from the two theoretical perspectives was constructed to organize and integrate data and to guide the presentation and discussion of the findings of the study in an integrative and comprehensive manner. The findings suggested that both theoretical perspectives considered the biopsychosocial as well as cultural and historical influences of situations and experiences in Dahmer’s personality development throughout the lifespan. Adlerian theory indicated that Dahmer held a socially useless lifestyle whose movement was guided purposively towards a fictional goal xxii of godlikeness through creative, concrete expressions of personal superiority. Eriksonian theory held that Dahmer remained in role confusion, which was viewed as a functional, fragmented identity to survive in society and achieve a fantasy. Thus, both theories indicated, despite their different conceptualizations, that Dahmer’s personality development was ultimately not socially beneficial. The study of Dahmer’s personality development has provided a positive demonstration of the value of both Erikson (1950) and Adler’s (1929) theories to understand the processes of personality development in an individual life. It has further highlighted the uniqueness of individual responses to life tasks and consequently unlocked the possibility of perceiving people and their actions differently. Recommendations were made for future research undertakings that utilize a psychobiographical research design and methodology to uncover, illuminate and reconstruct the lives of enigmatic personalities.

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)

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. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

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)