Alfred Adler’s concept of social interest is also known as Gemeinschaftsgefühl {Gemeinschaftsgefühl - Gemeinschaft “community” and Gefühl “feeling” -“social interest”} which is a sense of belonging, cooperation, social connectedness, interest in other people’s wellbeing. Adler felt that having a healthy social interest is important for an individual’s psychological well-being and success in social interaction.
According to Rudolf Dreikurs, “Social interest is the most important human quality. Social interest is not innate. What is innate is our ability to develop social interest. It is not static; during our lifetime we increase or diminish it. When we are successful, we enlarge and intensify the area in which we feel a sense of belonging; when we are unhappy or fail, we restrict it. All our failures exposes a lack of social interest. Only where we feel a sense of belonging do we have a high tolerance level, so that we can take in stride whatever life may have in store for us. The degree of our social interest is constantly tested by all the adversities that confront us throughout life. Outside the range of our social interest, our fellow men appear as our enemies against whom we have to be on guard. The ensuing feeling of hostility and suspicion prevents our cooperation.
Therefore, the feeling of belonging presupposes confidence in others, who are perceived as fellow human beings in our common task of service to the needs of all. If we cannot have confidence in our fellows, our distrust and suspicion breaks down our bond of common interests. The greatest source of our distrust is due not to clashes of interest but to our concern with status. Only if we are confident of our status as equals can we be our brothers’ keepers. Inferiority feelings undermine our courage and arouse fears, the chief obstacle to any cooperation. For men who have become free and have discovered their equality to others, fear is sin, the attribute of slaves. Our predisposition to fear is the remnant of a slave mentality that we have not yet overcome.
Inferiority feelings and fear are the strongest deterrents to social functioning and to peace of mind. Without fear, and unaffected by a feeling of personal and social inadequacy, we can endure all the hardships of life and still be able to cooperate, to participate with others in common efforts, and to use our inner resources for the benefit of all. Inferiority feelings restrict the development of the all- important social interest; therefore, they can be regarded as the most destructive human characteristic” (p. 66-67).
We are experiencing a time where many people are self absorbed, lack care and interest in others, there is a rise in hatred for our fellow human beings, society is divided, and people are concerned and scared for the state of the human race. We need more belongingness, community feeling, connections, cooperation, interest in the wellbeing of others, and willingness to contribute in society — we need more social interest!
Reference
Dreikurs, R. (1971). Social equality: The challenge of today. Chicago, IL: Adler School of Professional Psychology, Inc.