Ona's mother was highly critical of her when she was a child,often telling her she NEVER did anything right.Now,as an adult,Ona works long hours to prove that she is better at her job than her coworkers.Which of the following best accounts for Ona's behaviour?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Adler's theory of how feelings of inferiority lead to over-compensation is the best account for Ona's behavior. As a child, she was constantly criticized and made to feel inferior by her mother, leading to an inherent feeling of inadequacy. To compensate for this feeling, she works harder than her coworkers to prove her worth and superiority, as a means of over-compensation.

Ona's Mother Was Highly Critical of Her When She Was