Mosak's Meanderings:

Dreikurs’ Child Psychology—A Reactive Psychology?

     My comments on Adler and dream research lead to some questions about Dreikurs’ child psychology. In its underlying philosophy it is fundamentally a reactive psychology. If the child misbehaves thus, then the goal is this, and the adult should respond thus. As I have previously written (Mosak,), this view is predicated on “psychopathology.” There is little focus, beyond encouragement (and even that is based upon “psychopathology,” i. e, the child is discouraged) on proactivity;  Individual Psychology leaves little room for warmth, cuddling, fun timc together, etc. Mutual respect seems to be more important than other relational behaviors. While it is not true, it is little wonder that Freud accused Adler of creating a psychology without love.

Reference

Mosak, Harold H. (1991).Where have all the normal people gone? Individual Psychology, 47, 437-446.