Which Adlerian concept describes self-defeating beliefs that influence behavior?

• A. Life style
• B. Fictional finalism
• C. Catching oneself
• D. Basic mistakes

Answer: (D)

In Adlerian theory, basic mistakes describe self-defeating beliefs about life that shape and drive behavior. These beliefs are often global, simplistic conclusions people draw from early experiences, and they color how someone interprets events, what goals they set, and how they respond to others. Because these mistakes are broad and internal, they tend to produce consistent patterns across situations—like always blaming others, assuming you must outperform everyone, or thinking happiness depends on a single, unattainable standard. When someone holds these basic mistakes, their attempts to cope end up reinforcing the very problems they’re trying to fix, which is why the beliefs are self-defeating.

This concept is distinct from life style, which refers to the overall pattern or style a person uses to approach life tasks; fictional finalism, which concerns the imagined long-term goals guiding behavior; and catching oneself, which is a technique for noticing and interrupting self-defeating thoughts in the moment. The self-defeating beliefs described by basic mistakes best capture why behavior becomes repetitive and counterproductive.