A Review of the Relationship Between Individual Psychology and Spirituality

Year 2022, , 221 - 244, 15.06.2022

Büşra Ünverdi

https://doi.org/10.37898/spc.2022.7.2.178

Abstract

Individual psychology is a theory developed by Alfred Adler that significantly contributed to the psychology literature both in theory and practice. Spirituality, on the other hand, is an area that cannot be ignored in human life. This article reviews the perspective of individual psychology on spirituality, its relationship with spirituality, how it makes spiritual assessments, and how it can be used with clients with a spiritual/ religious orientation. The review considers both Adler’s own texts and articles by later researchers who adopted his theoretical orientation. Individual psychology evaluates each individual by considering their own phenomenological field. It therefore does not ignore clients’ spiritual/religious dimensions in the counseling process and accepts that spirituality has an important place in the life of individuals. Given that spirituality has a structure that supports well-being, hope, and insight while providing an important coping mechanism, Adler’s inclusion of spirituality in his theory is clearly important. The case examples included in the article also support this and reveal in general terms how individual psychology handles and assesses spirituality during counseling.

Keywords

Individual Psychology, spirituality, review study

Bireysel Psikoloji’nin Maneviyatla İlişkisi Üzerine Bir Derleme Çalışması

Abstract

Bireysel psikoloji, Alfred Adler tarafından geliştirilmiş ve psikoloji literatürüne hem teorik hem de pratik olarak önemli katkılar sağlamış bir teoridir. Maneviyat ise insan hayatında göz ardı edilemeyecek bir alandır. Bu makale, bireysel psikolojinin maneviyata yönelik bakış açısını, maneviyatla ilişkisini, manevi değerlendirmeleri nasıl yaptığını ve manevi/ dini yönelimli danışanlarla nasıl kullanılabileceğini içeren bir derleme çalışmasıdır. Derleme, hem Adler’in kendi metinlerini hem de onun teorik yönelimini benimseyen daha sonraki araştırmacıların makalelerini ele almaktadır. Bireysel psikoloji, her bireyi kendi fenomenolojik alanını dikkate alarak değerlendirmektedir. Bu nedenle danışma sürecinde danışanların manevi/dini boyutlarını göz ardı etmez ve maneviyatın bireylerin hayatında önemli bir yere sahip olduğunu kabul eder. Maneviyatın önemli bir başa çıkma mekanizması sağlarken iyilik, umut ve içgörüyü destekleyen bir yapıya sahip olduğu düşünüldüğünde, Adler’in teorisine maneviyatı dahil etmesi önemli görünmektedir. Makalede yer alan vaka örnekleri de bunu desteklemekte ve bireysel psikolojinin psikolojik danışma sürecinde maneviyatı nasıl ele aldığını ve değerlendirdiğini genel hatlarıyla ortaya koymaktadır.

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