Which concept is the desire to become competent and perfect, also known as the 'growth force'?

• A. Private logic
• B. Push-button
• C. Striving for superiority
• D. Task setting and commitment

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is the motivation to become competent and perfect, described as striving for superiority, the growth force. In Adlerian psychology, people are driven to overcome feelings of inferiority by developing their abilities and mastering life tasks. This growth force pushes a person to improve, learn, and reach higher levels of competence, with the aim of contributing meaningfully to others and to society. That intrinsic push to grow and excel fits the description of desiring competence and perfection far more precisely than other notions.

Private logic centers on an individual’s self-beliefs and rules that guide behavior, which can be healthy or distorted, but it isn’t the generic drive to grow. The idea of a “push-button” mentality implies expecting instant results with little effort, which doesn’t capture the ongoing, developmental drive. Task setting and commitment describes planning and sticking to tasks, a behavior pattern, but it doesn’t name the inner force propelling continual improvement. Striving for superiority best matches the concept of a growth-oriented drive to develop competence and mastery.