Which theorist emphasizes lifestyle, birth order, and family constellation?

• A. Jung
• B. Erikson
• C. Maslow
• D. Adler

Answer: (D)

Alfred Adler is the theorist who emphasizes lifestyle, birth order, and family constellation. Adler’s approach, called individual psychology, views a person’s lifestyle as a unique, enduring pattern of how they strive for significance and cope with feelings of inferiority. This lifestyle is formed early in life and guides behavior across situations. Birth order matters in Adler’s view because a child’s position in the family shapes their experiences, expectations, and interactions, influencing personality development. Family constellation, the arrangement of family members and their relationships, is used by Adler to understand how these dynamics affect an individual’s development and behavior. This focus differentiates Adler from Jung, who emphasized the collective unconscious and archetypes; Erikson, who framed development as a series of psychosocial stages; and Maslow, who highlighted a hierarchy of needs and self-actualization.