Criminals, Liars, Suicides, Lazy and Insane All Suffer From Inferiority, Says Adler
Criminals, liars, suicides, lazy persons, and some types of insane were swept into the category of "inferiority complex victims" by Dr. Alfred Adler of Vienna in an address at the Brooklyn Jewish Center last night. They are victims of a second phase of the inferiority complex, he said—the superiority complex, which is a mask and mean imitation of heroes, stimulated by a great feeling of inferiority.
The Viennese psychologist, who fathered the "inferiority complex" idea, elaborated on his pet theme before an audience of more than 800 persons who plied him eagerly with questions and blocked his exit from the building at 667 Eastern pkwy. when the lecture was concluded. The address marked his first appearance on the lecture platform since his arrival in this country Jan. 16. He was introduced by Louis Gribetz of the forum committee of the Brooklyn Jewish Center.
Speaks With Accent.
A medium size roundish man, with gray hair and puffy eyes, the Austrian scholar spoke in short staccato sentences the logic of which was often as difficult to follow as was his broken diction.
He devoted most of his address to analysis of the cause of inferiority complexes, which, he declared, developed in children at the age of four or five and possibly younger. Imperfect mental, physical, or environmental equipment he cited as the chief cause for the inferiority complex, and declared the influence of the mother in developing a spirit of social adjustment among children at an early age, to be the most important single factor in avoiding the disability.
Interest in Social Progress.
"To prevent these inferiority complexes," he said, "we must make ourselves and our children interested in social progress. It is the greatest mistake to establish social walls about our children. They must understand that nothing is worth while if it is not worth while to the whole of mankind."
"The adult person suffering from an inferiority complex must have his feelings of trustworthiness in his fellow-men aroused," he continued, adding, "That is not only a science; it is an art."
Treatment of Cases.
Finally, he said, "You must convince the patient that everybody can accomplish everything, for his complex arose from the feeling that he was not prepared to solve the problems confronting him."
Dr. Adler made it clear in advocating this doctrine of equality that he considered it only an expedient. "It does not mean that we can all be equal," he said, "but everyone can hope to be equal, and in that way everyone can accomplish more. They at least will be freed of the superstition that some persons are free in their development because of their heredity."
Fuente: "Criminals, Liars, Suicides, Lazy and Insane All Suffer From Inferiority, Says Adler", The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, N.Y., Tuesday, 29 January 1929, p. 5, cols. 2-3, unsigned. Transcribed from the page image at fultonhistory.com (Brooklyn NY Daily Eagle 1929 Grayscale - 1122), rendered at 300 dpi; the platform OCR was used only for orientation. The whole piece is legible. Other short reports of the same lecture (Brooklyn Standard Union, 29 January 1929) are not included.