Individual psychology, cultural anthropology, and transculturalism

Abstract

This contribution examines the convergences between the Cultural-Anthropological School and Adler's Individual Psychology, with particular attention to the intersections between cultural anthropology and depth psychology. The group of scholars who developed the Cultural-Anthropological School, including R. Benedict, M. Mead, and A. Kardiner, advocated a multidisciplinary approach that linked personality and culture in a relationship of mutual circularity. In their view, individuals develop their personalities through interaction with socio-cultural norms, which in turn influence culture. Similarly, Adler emphasized the psycho-physical unity of human beings and the importance of childhood experiences in the formation of a “sense of community.” Both theories recognize the importance of the mother-child relationship as fundamental to social adaptation. Adaptation, for Adler, is seen as a dynamic process, while cultural anthropology emphasizes the influence of primary institutions on cultural change. The mutual influence between the individual and culture emerges as a crucial theme, particularly in mental disorders. The cultural relativism of cultural anthropology paves the way for transcultural psychiatry, which considers socio-cultural variables in psychopathological treatment, integrating more dynamic approaches than traditional psychoanalytic models. This integrated approach proposes an analysis and treatment that is more sensitive to the cultural and social specificities of patients