Summary In his theory of Individual Psychology Adler attached central importance to the concept of social interest. In the community of Individual Psychologists, however, the concept led to a good deal of controversy. In order to bridge this discrepancy, we present in this paper a model of social adaptation using the concept of System Theory. In this model, human thought, action and feeling are related to perception, adaption and experience and then applied to the perspectives, »Me«, »You« and »Us«. Thus, in all, nine aspects of community-oriented social behaviour are derived, which are then combined to make a »Social Matrix«. In the course of children’s unconscious learning processes, when they are living in the family where they grow up, only a part of the inherent social potential of an individual can be developed. This shows up as differences in the patterns on the Social Matrix. In this article the author illustrates ways in which the Social Matrix can be correlated to the Adlerian concepts of life-tasks, lifestyle and social interest. By taking specific steps to vary the significance of the factors that influence social learning, a new learning process can be initiated with a more balanced and personalised Social Matrix. In this process, social interest can be developed and strengthened.