--- Title: The Greatest Question in the World Description: Table Talk (Melbourne), 6 August 1936, pp. 11 and 15. Interview with Alfred Adler on love and marriage by Betty Ross; place and date of the interview not stated. Author: Alfred Adler URL: https://adler.school/archivo/adler/entrevistas/original/1936-08-06%20The%20Greatest%20Question%20in%20the%20World --- ### Dr. ADLER SAYS: **"Love and Marriage is the greatest question in the world because it is the only one man cannot solve. Perhaps its real solution lies in agreeing with love's inner laws. Love must have a view to the future. That means children, education and conforming to the development of mankind." From this interview by Betty Ross with the famous disciple and successor to Freud now regarded as the most eminent psychiatrist in the world today.** # The GREATEST QUESTION IN THE WORLD "THE world is full of men and women trying to escape love!" This startling statement falls from Dr. Alfred Adler, famous Viennese scientist, noted as "the father of the inferiority complex." "To escape love?" I repeat after him. The noted savant nods and continues: "Mostly women are in this class. Why? Because they have greater inferiority complexes." "What accounts for that?" I ask. "Our culture and traditions give them more hindrances and burdens; these suppressions bring on a sense of inferiority and this complex plays an important role in love and marriage. Mature men and women with a pretended cynicism or coldness towards romance, are really suffering from this." "What gives one an inferiority complex?" "It usually develops in early childhood among hated or spoiled children; or in those kept away from people and left only with the one person who serves them. This brings about a self-centred attitude, leaving one individual solely concerned in looking out for his own well-being. As a result, all concern for others is lessened. He does not wish to join interests with anyone. To compensate for this inferiority, he strives for superiority; his main objective being suppression of others. His goal is to rule—to dominate." "Does this explain the domineering lover?" I wonder. DR. ADLER nods. "Yes, and whether man or woman, such a lover awakens only resistance in the heart of the other person. This turns love into a combat and so often breaks up the marriage. "For if he cannot dominate he takes the only way left open for him—escape. That explains why the world is full of men and women trying to escape romance. Often this escape-feeling makes the person's faculties become imperfect and perverted," continues the scientist. "The man of this class has not the impulse to join hands with others, he wants only to be a conqueror. Such a woman is usually known by her frigidity. The 'cold' woman—or marble bride—exists only because she fears losing her superiority." "Can this feeling be mastered?" he is asked. "Yes," is the confident response. "If one is in harmony with the laws of love." "And what are they?" I listen intently, for Dr. Adler has successfully pioneered in the field of individual psychology. His books on the subject are internationally known. Here he has aimed to develop a living knowledge of human nature, applicable and useful to every individual. In this branch of science he tries to establish that the only happiness is that which originates in social co-operative usefulness. He has shown scientifically that the behavior-pattern originating in the first years of childhood often proves damaging and harmful. Thus, by individual psychology, he is attempting to uproot the life-lies, the delusions, and deep-rooted errors that usually accompany a false behavior-pattern. DR. ADLER ceases his restless pacing and sits down beside me. The author of "Organic Inferiority," "The Neurotic Character" and other scientific contributions is well-built, his moustache shaggy, his complexion ruddy, his forehead deep. His wide, clear-eyed gaze seems to encompass all mankind's problems and to mirror his brooding over them. Thoughtfully, he continues: "The relation of a human being towards Cosmos, Society, and Sex gives him some advantages and some difficulties. Because man is always striving to develop, he is constantly foreseeing, avoiding and weighing Life's difficulties. To accept the advantages, however, is his heritage. In the struggle against difficulties lies a sense of inferiority. That is the main thing. All his movements show traces of a striving for compensation and an effort to solve life's three problems." "And these are——?" I query. "The first is Social; what is an individual's behavior towards others? "The second concerns his Occupation: to what degree does a man want to be useful to society? "The third concerns Love and Marriage, the greatest question in the world. Why? Because it is the only one man cannot solve." As though thinking aloud, Dr. Adler continues: "Perhaps its real solution lies in agreeing with Love's inner laws." "What are they?" I break in. "Love must have a view to the future; that means children; education; and conforming to the development of mankind. Love is a task for two persons—of the same class. "Two," he emphasises, holding up two fingers. "Just as eating, drinking, sleeping, are tasks for one person, so love is for two. Because Love must always be responsive; one must think of the other. Just as in any business venture where two people are concerned, they must blend their temper, behavior and attitude to each other. You must help, not hinder, each other. You must be so!" he exclaims, dramatically interlocking his hands. "In this spirit, two persons make a unit which brings love. "But then you must beware of Love's hindrances," comes his warning. "These are egotistic manners. Egotism means a lack of social feeling, which becomes a great drawback to romance." "HOW can one prevent it?" is my query. "By constantly checking up his behavior with the laws of love," is the response. "If your views do not coincide with them, then do not go on with your false development. Do not feel you must always conquer," he earnestly adds. "Love is not to be conquered. If you think so, you will always be defeated. Love means equality." "Equality," I muse. "And yet how often brilliant men marry apparently brainless young women. How does psychology explain that?" "Those types are cowards," suggests Dr. Adler, "who to retain superiority, marry below their level. This is the wrong basis for matrimony. Inevitably, both parties are unhappy; above all, the woman. For she is curtailed in thought and action, and realises that she is beneath her husband. He, in turn, expects her to act like a grateful slave. From such a situation, how can anything result but failure." "—Or divorce," I comment. "Divorce?" Reflecting a moment, he adds in slow, (Continued on Page 15) precise accents: "It is quite right to consider divorce if you are married to a tyrant—to an egotistic man who cannot solve the question of love." Dr. Alder continues: "A short rule to remember in selecting a marriage partner is this: Choose only a fellow-man." "By what token will he be recognised?" The world famous scientist explains: "Is he constantly scolding, criticising, suppressing, compelling others? Has he few friends and comrades? Is he untrue to them? Is he constantly occupied with his own person? Then he is not a fellow-man!" With a broad sweep of his hand, the savant waves away this unsocial being from his own and Love's horizon. In conclusion, I ask, half in jest: "Is there a scientific recipe for happy marriage?" "Yes," replies Dr. Adler, with a smile. "A good social feeling. This includes three factors: consideration for the other person; a view to future; and vows of permanency." --- *Fuente:* transcripción a partir de las imágenes de las páginas en Trove (National Library of Australia, nla.news-article149319862): *Table Talk*, Melbourne, 6 de agosto de 1936, pp. 11 y 15. El OCR de Trove es muy defectuoso (sobre todo en la primera columna, cortada por el lomo): todo el texto se ha cotejado con la imagen. La errata «Dr. Alder» (p. 15) es del original. La entrevista se anunció en *The Sun News-Pictorial*, Melbourne, 5 de agosto de 1936, p. 13.