This article examines two key Adlerian concepts through contemporary applications: social interest and holism. The first analysis explores how social interest manifests in online support groups and virtual communities, demonstrating how digital platforms can foster or hinder meaningful social connections. The second analysis applies holistic principles to understand the experiences of Black women in the Southwestern United States, examining their striving for significance and belonging within complex social dynamics.
The first article I selected that consists relevant news items representing an Adrerian concept is titled, ‘social interest, empathy, and online support groups’. The Adrerian principle that is represented in this article is that of social interest. Hammond (2015) uses community feeling and social interest to examine the internet and the virtual communities that develop owing to internet. Essentially, comments, communities, organizations, and online endeavors can either be useful or useless – from a social perspective. It is important to note that online support groups are created to support or connect with one another. This is more so the case given that the internet shapes, affects, and connects people’s lives in a variety of ways. In addition, the internet is expanding continually. Therefore, examining the online support groups is important given that it will help in identifying how supportive interactions can be maximized so as to promote online social interest (Hammond, 2015).
The second article, ‘Belonging, striving, and style of life among black women in the Southwestern United States’ also consists relevant news representing the Adrerian concept. The principle that is evident in this article happens to be that of holism. Essentially, holism refers to the manner in which individuals integrate or internalize their experiences into their personal life. The author, Lemberger-Truelove (2018), uses the concept of holistic approach to explore the experiences of selected Black women in striving for significance and belonging. According to the author, how an individual contributes to their environment and the feeling of belonging are important aspects of life. Individuals may contribute to the world through social networks. For instance, Lemberger-Truelove (2018) indicates that Black women may be affected by various dynamics or social institutions. The said aspects may threaten their social prosperity and their identity. There are various ways through which black women can improve their sense of belonging. For instance, Lemberger-Truelove (2018) suggests that mentoring improves an individuals’ feeling of connectedness and, thus, improves their social interest and belonging.
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