Review of Understanding Human Nature

Abstract

Reviews the book, Understanding Human Nature by Alfred Adler (see record 1928-00537-000 ). This book is a translation of a series of lectures delivered by the author at the People's Institute in Vienna to "hundreds of men and women of all ages and professions." It is dedicated by the author to the "task of illuminating man's progress toward a better understanding of human nature." There is no index. Psychologists who are already familiar with Adler's work will find nothing new in this volume. It is the familiar story of the inferiority feelings, the will to power, the satisfaction found in whatever exalts the self, and the great variety of adjustments to life of many degrees of sufficiency. One notes with interest that there is much more emphasis upon inferiority feelings consequent to the influence of the social setting and rather less upon organ inferiority. In fact the most notable feature psychologically is the pervasive emphasis upon environmental effects, especially social, upon the individual. Whether justly or not a volume of popular lectures inevitably gives the reader an impression of the lecturer himself. Through these lectures one seems to hear the voice of confidence unqualified in the assertions of that special school of psychoanalytic thinking. Again and again the scientific reader will be startled by assertions for which he wonders if there is any inductively determined basis, and seeks in vain for authenticating references. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)