Adlerian Psychodynamics and Marxian Materialism: Two Contributions compared about Human Evolution, Historical-Social Changes and Individual Development

Abstract

Starting from Marx's criticism of utopian socialism, a comparison is proposed between the materialistic view of the present and future society, (founded on the marxian concept of “socioeconomic formation”) and Adler’s idea of human coexistence and its possibilities of evolution, based on an ethic, peaceful and reformist outlook. Both the Authors recognise and analyse the essential link between historical-social context and individual development and life (as confirmed by the most recent
neuropsychological investigations), but they come to different conclusions. According to Marx the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle: emancipation of individuals and mankind can take place only through a revolutionary process, made possible thanks to the development of productive forces and the historical occasions that capitalism itself produces. Adler aims to apply the principles of Individual Psychology to social psychology and political issues; his political position is close to revisionist and reformist tendencies. He refuses a revolutionary perspective, that would inevitably be marked by violence, and in his vision of socialism he exalts, on the contrary, the aspect of complete expression of the community sense itself, of general overcoming and emancipation from the greed for power and personal ambition