Definition
Teleology is the study of purpose, or explanation by the end something serves. In Adlerian psychology it stands in deliberate contrast to etiology, the explanation of behavior by its past causes. Where an etiological account asks what happened to make a person this way, a teleological account asks what goal the present behavior is currently pursuing.
The claim is not that the past is irrelevant, but that it does not determine the present. A person's history can be interpreted in many ways; which interpretation they adopt depends on the goal they are serving now.
Why it matters
How it works
To apply a teleological lens, ask of any stuck pattern what purpose it might be quietly serving. Anger may serve the goal of dominating a conversation; reluctance to act may serve the goal of avoiding the risk of failure. Naming the goal makes the behavior negotiable.
This is why teleology pairs naturally with freedom and task separation. Once behavior is seen as goal-directed rather than past-determined, the person can choose new goals, draw new boundaries, and act from their own values in the present.