ASWB Clinical Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Study Resource

In the context of individual psychology, key concepts include compensation, inferiority, and perfection, all of which are central to understanding how individuals navigate their experiences and motivations.

Compensation refers to the behavioral strategies individuals employ to overcome feelings of inferiority or inadequacy. This concept suggests that people often strive to develop strengths in other areas as a means of countering perceived weaknesses.

The idea of inferiority is fundamental in individual psychology and is rooted in the belief that feelings of inferiority can motivate individuals to strive for improvement and personal development. This concept, introduced by Alfred Adler, posits that the quest to overcome perceived limitations drives behavior and personal growth.

Perfection, or the striving for superiority, is another key element of individual psychology. It emphasizes the human drive towards achieving personal goals and the need for self-improvement, often reflecting an individual's aspirations and ideal self.

In contrast, psychosexual urges are not a fundamental concept within individual psychology but rather stem from psychoanalytic theory, particularly the work of Sigmund Freud. Individual psychology focuses more on social interest, community, and the individual's striving for significance rather than the psychosexual stages of development. Thus, the identification of psychosexual urges as a concept not central to individual psychology differentiates it from the other