Adlerian work / ADL-A05-1
Social Interest in Action — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind social interest in action and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Morgan offers to share transport planning rather than taking over everyone's arrangements.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. Contribution can include mutual care and receiving support.
The idea
Contribution can include mutual care and receiving support.
An ordinary example
Morgan offers to share transport planning rather than taking over everyone's arrangements.
What this can look like
Design one small cooperative action that respects your energy and the other person's preferences.
Check the fit
How can contribution remain mutual? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.
A useful distinction
Encouragement is not reassurance that everything will work out, and contribution does not determine human worth.
Prompts for this resource
- What part of this idea makes sense to me?
- How can contribution remain mutual?
Conceptual background
Alfred Adler: Theory and Application — Adler Graduate School
Background on the approach only. Original exercises and wording are by More Than Therapy with AI assistance; the source does not validate or endorse these materials.