ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam

What primary motivator does Alfred Adler identify as the key factor in human life?

1. Pleasure

2. Perfection

3. Power

4. Wealth

The correct answer is: Perfection

Alfred Adler identifies the pursuit of perfection, or striving for personal excellence and self-improvement, as a primary motivator in human life. This concept, grounded in Adler's theory of individual psychology, emphasizes a central belief that individuals are driven by their desire to overcome feelings of inferiority and achieve a sense of superiority or fulfillment within their capabilities. Adler proposed that this striving for perfection is not merely an individual aspiration but also influences social relationships and the individual's place within society. Thus, personal growth, social interest, and the ambition to better oneself toward an ideal state are fundamental in understanding human behavior according to Adler. In this context, the other options are less aligned with Adler's perspective. Pleasure focuses on immediate gratification, power sometimes denotes a more adversarial approach to relationships typically associated with other psychological theories, and wealth represents a materialistic goal rather than the deeper psychological striving for personal growth and social connectedness that Adler championed.