What Is an Inferiority Complex?

The inferiority complex is an important concept in Adler's individual psychology. When an individual is faced with a problem that he cannot properly deal with, he expresses that he absolutely cannot solve the problem. At this time, the inferiority complex appears.

The inferiority complex is an important concept in Adler's individual psychology. When an individual is faced with a problem that he cannot properly deal with, he expresses that he absolutely cannot solve the problem. At this time, the inferiority complex appears.

Chinese name

Inferiority

Foreign name

inferiority complex

Applied discipline

psychology

Inferiority complex concept

The inferiority complex was proposed by Adler. It is an important concept of individual psychology. When an individual faces a problem that he cannot properly deal with, he indicates that he cannot solve the problem. At this time, the inferiority complex appears. From this definition, we can see that anger, like tears and apologies, can be a manifestation of the inferiority complex. Because the feeling of inferiority always causes tension, the compensatory action for the sense of superiority will inevitably appear at the same time, but its purpose is not to solve the problem. ^[1]

After feeling a sense of inferiority, the individual wants to compensate for the deficiency of the body by fighting for power or becoming more powerful. Individuals acting as a unit can be compensated in two basic ways.

One is to become aware of one's own physical defects and concentrate on developing its functions on poor organs. For example, frail people strengthen their physique through sustained physical exercise. When individuals make great efforts to make the original defects into their own advantages, Adler calls this "overcompensation."

The other is to acknowledge one's own defects and develop other functions to make up for the defective functions. For example, the blind can make up by developing hearing or touch, or a frail person turns to the field of thought and seeks compensation with a pen instead of a sword, all of which belong to the latter type of compensation.

The notion of inferiority applies not only to everyone, but also to humanity as a whole. In Adler's view, inferiority "is the reason for the advancement of human status. For example, the rise of science is because humans feel their ignorance and their need to predict the future: it is human beings to improve their entire situation, The results of our hard work in further exploration of the universe and in trying to better control nature. In fact, all of our human culture is based on a sense of inferiority. "

How to identify "inferiority complex"

When identifying patients with inferiority complexes, it is not useful to tell him widely. Doing so will only deepen his inferiority complex, rather than let him know how to overcome them. We must find out his special temperament in life style, and we must encourage him when he lacks courage.

Every patient with neuropathy has an inferiority complex. It is absolutely impossible to separate a certain neuropathy from other patients by the presence or absence of an inferiority complex. We can only separate him from other patients by the kinds of situations that make him feel unable to continue his life, as well as the limitations of his efforts and activities. So we don't have to ask, we just need to pay attention to individual behavior. In his actions, we can see what tricks he used to assure himself of his importance.

For example, if we see an arrogant person, we can guess his feeling: "Others always look down on me, I must show: what kind of character I am!"

If we see a person who gestures too much while speaking, we can also guess his feeling: "If I don't emphasize it, what I say seems too weightless!"

People who deliberately override other people in their behavior, we also doubt whether there is an inferiority complex behind him that requires special efforts to offset him.

Inferiority Complex

A variety of neurological disorders can exhibit restricted behavior. In the stutterer's language, we can see his hesitant attitude. His residual social feelings forced him to associate with his companions, but his contempt for himself, his fear of such attempts, conflicted with his social feelings, and as a result he seemed hesitant in his words.

Children who always fall behind in school, men or women who still cannot find a career in their 30s, or who have been delaying marriage issues, obsessive-compulsive neuropathy who must repeat the same behavior, work during the day Insomniacs who are very annoyed-these people have shown that they have an inferiority complex, which prevents them from making progress in solving their life problems.

Masturbation, premature ejaculation, impotence, and perverted libido all show a hesitant lifestyle style due to fear of improper behavior when approaching the opposite sex.

Inferiority complex

Inferiority complex is a kind of living situation. The existence of inferiority complex makes people feel nervous and is the driving force of personality development. Everyone has different levels of inferiority, so psychological inferiority is the basic situation that everyone should face. Inferiority can cause tension, and people have to work hard to get rid of this situation. Everyone makes that effort. But for different people, the way or way to get rid of it may be different. Only by using the right way (adler thinks that the way to cooperate with society is the only right way) to improve your environment can you effectively break away from this feeling and improve your situation. For these people, inferiority becomes the driving force for personality development by seeking the right compensation path to make up for their shortcomings. ^[1]