On the problem of adaptation: social sentiment and the reality principle. A critical comparison

Abstract

The text explores the similarities and differences between Individual Psychology and the post-Freudian psychoanalysis of Hartmann and Kohut. It analyzes the role of ego functions, between adaptation and creative planning, highlighting how the Adlerian perspective integrates social and teleological dimensions that are not always considered by other psychoanalytic authors. Particular attention is paid to the concept of the Self: cohesion and continuity in Kohut correspond to the Adlerian idea of lifestyle, highlighting how Individual Psychology maintains greater relational openness, whereas post-Freudian psychoanalysis delves deeper into intrapsychic functioning. The outcome of the authors' discussion is a critical comparison that opens up possibilities for dialogue and theoretical integration