The Work of Alfred Adler, Considered with Especial Reference to that of Freud1

Some years ago, while studying psychoanalysis for the first time, I acquainted myself in due course with the work of Dr. Alfred Adler of Vienna, and came then to the conclusion that while his contributions, regarded in themselves, were interesting and captivating (partly because presented with such eagerness and confidence), yet they were not such as to make one feel obliged to modify, in any essential respect, the formulations which were originally laid down by Freud and have since then been modified repeatedly, in detail, both by him and by his colleagues. In spite of having reached this judgment, however, the feeling has come over me from time to time, perhaps owing to complexes of my own, that possibly I had failed to do Adler complete justice, and that the problems he had raised called for fresh consideration. I have, therefore, kept up my interest in his views and have tried conscientiously to imbue myself with his Spirit. But although I can still find in his writings the same sort of attraction as before, I have found myself arriving always at the old conclusion; and I will now say, once for all, that I endorse the keen, intelligent opinion with regard to Adler's work which was expressed by Freud in that masterly paper with which every one should be familiar, entitled “Zur Geschichte der Psychoanalytischen Bewegung.”

It might seem that having said this I have said all that the occasion calls for; but, in fact, the subject cannot be dismissed so lightly.