Understanding the Inferiority Complex
- Vanessa Mukoo
- Nov 30, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 6, 2022
image source: iStock
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It is extremely common and normal to compare ourselves to other people at times and feel bummed out. These feelings are temporary emotions that usually fade within time as we turn to friends and family for support and feel more productive again. But, constant feelings of inadequacy and insufficiency lead to a negative pattern of emotions, the psychological term for which is inferiority complex. This complex arises because of an actual or imagined physical or psychological defect in a person.
History of the term
This term was coined by French Psychologist Alfred Adler in the 1920s. Adler was a student of the famous neurologist Sigmund Freud, who often criticised Freud’s theories that were based on sexual desires. Adler went on to establish a psychological approach called individual psychology that focuses on how individuals seek fulfillment and power. According to Adler, feeling inferior and inadequate pulls people into an absorbing state of self-interest. However, Adler did not consider inferiority itself a negative force; rather, it was normal and a sense of motivation. But, when a person’s life starts revolving around their inferiority, the term shifts to what Adler called the inferiority complex.
Signs and symptoms of inferiority complex
A person with inferiority complex can showcase the following symptoms:
Constantly focusing on thoughts that upset them
Repetitively seeking validation and attention from other people
Shutting down shame, embarrassment, and guilt
Degrading other people and attempting to make others feel insecure to counteract their own feelings of inadequacy and inferiority
Spending less time with friends and family and making up reasons to get out of conversations
Being highly sensitive to criticisms and compliments alike
Feeling responsible for other people’s setbacks
Displaying signs of anxiety and depression
Causes of Inferiority Complex
Alfred Adler suggested that a person exhibits particular behaviours that compensate for feelings of inadequacy and if someone is unable to do so, they develop the inferiority complex. He believed that these negative feelings initially emerge in infancy when an infant tries to compensate for feelings of inferiority by achieving a greater level of development. According to Adler, this cycle is followed throughout a child’s life. He speculated that these emotions modify a child’s personality and encourage them to perform better.
Apart from Adler’s theory, some of the common causes of inferiority complex are:
Experiences in childhood and adulthood
Negative experiences in childhood such as receiving constant criticism or disapproval, being raised in a cruel and inconsiderate environment, and having insensitive and rude mentors/caregivers can cause an inferiority complex. Similarly, in adulthood, seeing your coworkers perform better than you can spark feelings of jealousy and inadequacy leading to an inferiority complex.
Mental health
People who have a negative perception of themselves and an overall pessimistic outlook on life are even more vulnerable to developing the inferiority complex. They persistently compare themselves to other people and wonder how other people's lives are so much better than theirs. For instance, people having mood disorders like depression are more susceptible to this.
Physical appearance
Being overly conscious about your physical appearance like height, weight, facial features, speech, etc. can cause an inferiority complex.
Social and economic challenges
People with financial disadvantages such as low wages, belonging to a backward or low socioeconomic caste, or being at the verge of poverty can lead to feeling inferior and insufficient.
How to cope with the inferiority complex?
Living with an inferiority complex can be incredibly challenging. Endlessly trying to match up to other people can be physically and mentally draining. It causes depression, drug addiction, and suicidal ideation. A few ways to cope with it include:
Talking to a mental health professional: expressing your emotions to a mental health counsellor like a therapist can be extremely beneficial to cope with negative feelings. Attending therapy can gradually transform negative thoughts and feelings into positive ones.
Writing in a diary or journal: therapy may not be accessible or affordable for everyone. Therefore, it is important to write your feelings down in a journal and analyse whether they truly represent who you are or not.
Practicing positive self-talk: what someone has achieved or lost in life tells nothing about your character and potential. Reminding yourself that you are worthy of love and respect leads to a positive approach in tackling overwhelming feelings.
Surrounding yourself with good people: cutting off toxic people in your life who make you feel terrible about yourself can be difficult but necessary in the long run. Surround yourself with positive and considerate people who believe in you, encourage and guide you towards the right path, and make you feel proud of yourself!
The bottom line is, it is totally okay to feel inferior a few times here and there. But, constantly having to hassle around these feelings can be distressing. It is important to put yourself first and utilise the ways to cope with these emotions!
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