Copyright 1997, Henry T. Stein, Ph.D.

Reproduction Prohibited Without Permission

Re-designed by Annie Lalonde, May, 2003
Revised 10-18-04

THE STYLE OF LIFE TREE is a

highly simplified graphic illustration of

Alfred Adler's model of personality

development. It is based on a chart that
was originally conceived by Anthony
Bruck and later modified by Henry
Stein. The three main areas of the tree
are:
o The FIVE ROOTS represent the
formative period of early
childhood influences in which
the prototype of the style of life
was adopted. Some negative
influences have high
probabilities for provoking
discouragement, but none can
actually cause a child to choose a
negative direction in life. He
freely uses his creative
power, adapting influences and
circumstances, to his own idea
about the best way to live.

Health and
Appearance include the
influences of organ
inferiority, disease,
deformity, as well as
unusual beauty or
handsomeness. Each
factor may act as an
incentive for active
compensation or as a
burden leading to passive
discouragement.

Social and Economic

Position of the
Family would take into
consideration the impact
of poverty, wealth, and
any other cultural or
religious factors that
might promote feelings of
inferiority or superiority.

Parental
Attitudes covers the
effects of a wide
spectrum of parent-child
relationships including:
democratic, dominating,
submissive, pampering,
overprotective coersive,
perfectionistic, neglectful,
rejecting, seductive, and
punitive.

Family
Constellation explores
the influence of birth
order position, including:
only, oldest, second,
middle, youngest, only
boy among girls, only girl
among boys, adopted, and
a child whose sibling has
died. The number of
years between siblings, as
well as the sequence of
males and females are
often significant factors.
Each birth order position
has unique advantages as
well as disadvantages.

Gender Role may be a

positive or negative
influence, depending on
the value suggested by
the family and the
culture. The feelings of
equality, inferiority, or
superiority may be
evident in the role models
that children are exposed
to daily.

o The STYLE OF LIFE is the

core repetitive pattern of
thinking, feeling, and acting that

characterize the individual's

unique attitude toward the tasks
of life. To gain a practical
understanding of each client, five
subordinate attitudes may be
identified.

The Attitude Toward

Self may be characterized
by self-development, selfindulgence, or selfdestructiveness.

The Attitude Toward

Difficulties could range
from a self-pampering
preference for avoiding
all unpleasant difficulties,
to a vigorous appettite for
embracing and struggling
with difficulties.

The Attitude Toward

Others may involve
cooperation, rejection,
exploitation, domination,
or destruction.

The Attitude Toward the

Other Sex could be
expressed with respect,
acceptance, and affection,
or contempt, rejection,
and abuse.

The Attitude Toward

Life might range from
optimistic and generous
contribution, to
pesssimistic selfenrichment or selfprotection.

o The THREE TASKS OF

LIFE are the usual challenges
each adult is faced with in our
culture. In Adlerian diagnosis,
the individual's answer to each
challenge is an important index
of their mental health. Although
Adler emphasized the three main
life tasks, other Adlerians have
suggested the tasks of: selfdevelopment, family, religion,
art, nature, and death.

Other People may be

seen as potentially
friendly and approached
with warmth and
enthusiasm; foolish and
easy to exploit; or they
may be viewed as hostile
or indifferent, and
avoided as much as
posiible.

An Occupation might be
envisioned as an
opportunity for enriching
the lives of others--or
only oneself. Work can be
experienced as a creative
fulfilment or a dreaded
burden. Business may be
conducted with ruthless
competition, or a
benevolent consideration
for the well being of
employees and
customers.

Love and Sex offers

partners an opportunity
for intimate mutual
enrichment or selfish
expoitation. Immature
infatuation, without

commitment or mature,
responsible love.
o For more comprehensive
information about the style of
life, read Classical Adlerian
Theory and Practice.
(In an attempt to create a clear, simple
graphic, much detail must be excluded.
This is a work in progress, and any
feedback or suggestions for refinement
would be appreciated. Please e-mail
your comments to: Henry T. Stein,
Ph.D., HTStein@att.net ).
Reference: http://www.adlerian.us/tree.htm