ABSTRACT
StudiesofAlfredAdlerhavelonghadtheirconventions.Sympatheticdisciples andexplicatorsgenerallytrytolocatetheoriginsofIndividualPsychologyinthe earlyphysicalandpsychologicalvulnerabilitiesofthemovement'sfounder.In therickets,spasmsofbreathlessness,andrachitisthatplaguedAdlerduring childhood,theyseetheoriginsofhislatersensitivitytothethemeof"inferiority"inhismedicalandpsychologicalwork.Inhischildhooddecisionto pursueacareerinmedicinefollowingaboutwithpneumoniaduringwhichhe overheardhisdoctorpronouncehim"lost,"theyseethekindof"compensatory"strategyatworkthatwouldfiguresoprominentlyinAdler'stheoryof psychologicaldevelopment.InAdler'syouthfulresolvetobecomeanablemathematicsstudentaftergreatdifficultywiththesubject,andinhisearlyrecollectionofovercominganinhibitoryfearofwalkingthroughalocalcemetery,they seethegermofthekindofsuccessful''overcompensations''thatAdler'ssystem oftherapylatersoughttocultivate.1
