Alfred Adler (1870-1937) an Austrian psychiatrist and contemporary of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung suffered rickets as a child and nearly died of pneumonia when he was five. With the return of his good health he decided to pursue medical studies. While pursuing that dream, as a young professional, Adler joined Freud's Analytic Society and became the president of the group as well as co-editor of the organization's newsletter. Adler along with nine others left Freud's group and formed the Society for Free Psychoanalysis in 1911. A year later the organization became known as the Society for Individual Psychology.

Adler's comprehensive theory of human behavior promotes a holistic view of human nature within a social context. He argued that all of life's problems are social problems and that mental health is sustained by the courage to express social interest (Gemeinschaftsgefühl). He viewed each person as a unique individual influenced by primary caregivers, family and community relationships. Individual Psychology emphasizes the creativity of the individual, community feeling and personal responsibility. Adler promoted an understanding of the relationship between inferiority feelings and striving for superiority. Arguing for equality between the sexes, Adler proposed that masculine protest occurs in response to power dynamics and compensatory striving.

Adler's philosophy influenced the thoughts of Aaron Beck, Albert Ellis, Viktor Frankl, Erich Fromm, Karen Horney and Abraham Maslow. Adler's ideas are seen at work in Cognitive Behavioral Psychology, Humanistic Psychology, Rational Emotive Therapy, Reality Therapy, Social Psychology and Solution Focused Therapy to name a few. His endeavors paved the way for parent education, community mental health centers and school counseling programs. Adler's terminology, such as "compensation," "inferiority complex," and "logical consequences" are used in everyday language. As a dynamic and vital understanding of human nature, Individual Psychology continues to grow and thrive in an ever changing world.