INFERIORITY COMPLEX
It’s natural for us to have low self-esteem, doubt our abilities, and feel inferior to others at times. Feeling inferior can sometimes be a blessing in disguise because it can help you move forward in life. Striving for superiority both causes and helps to overcome inferiority.
It’s fine if you have some control over your feelings of inferiority and they only happen once in a while. When a person experiences feelings of inferiority too frequently and for a long time, it can lead to the development of an inferiority complex.
A person with an inferiority complex feels worthless and hopeless. The person begins to believe that he or she lacks certain qualities and is therefore inferior to others in those areas.
The normal feelings of incompetence are exaggerated as a result of an inferiority complex, and the individual believes it is impossible to achieve goals and/or possess certain abilities. If inferiority complex becomes too overwhelming and lasts for a long time, it has the potential to engulf the person in such a powerful way that it transforms into superiority complex. In a superiority complex, the individual believes that making others feel inferior and thus becoming superior is a good way to overcome inferiority.
It is necessary to overcome one’s inferiority complex.
What is Inferiority Complex?
The inferiority complex makes a person feel worthless and insufficient. The person begins to believe that he or she lacks certain qualities and is inferior to others in those areas. The normal feelings of incompetence are exaggerated as a result of an inferiority complex, and the individual believes it is impossible to achieve goals and/or achieve certain accomplishments. If an inferiority complex becomes too overwhelming and persists for an extended period of time, it may engulf the person and begin to affect their work and relationships. Some people may put on a superiority mask in order to mask their feelings of inferiority.
People who suffer from an inferiority complex are extremely sensitive to what others think of them, and they frequently take offence at seemingly innocuous comments or nonverbal cues. Any criticism will linger with them for a long time. They are quick to assume that others have a negative impression of them.
People who criticize others are subjected to the harshest criticism. When you have an inferiority complex, you may have a tendency to point out flaws in others. You may, for example, have a friend who you consider to be more successful than you. If you have feelings of inferiority, instead of feeling happy for them, you might tell yourself that their career path isn’t as great as they make it out to be.
It’s natural for people to compare themselves to others. However, there are both healthy and unhealthy ways in which it can affect us. Comparing ourselves to others can be beneficial if it motivates us to become a better version of ourselves and invest in our personal development. If we constantly focus on our flaws while exaggerating the strengths of others, it can lead to our downfall.
Acting superior is one of the most well-known defense mechanisms people use to hide their feelings of inferiority. Not only will those individuals behave as if they are superior to others, but they will also devalue anyone who does not treat them as such. It’s a form of self-defense for their weak, vulnerable ego.
When a person is in a social situation, his or her subconscious mind becomes anxious without the person being aware of it. The subconscious mind ensures that the person avoids those who make them feel inferior in this way. Fear of public speaking, fear of approaching the opposite sex, and stage fright are all examples of inferiority complex symptoms.
People with inferiority complexes are more likely to give up easily over minor infractions. For “ego’s sake,” they want to be the first to leave, and they usually expect negative outcomes from anyone they meet. For example, if a date is cancelled due to a valid reason, they refuse to schedule another date, assuming they aren’t attractive enough.
It’s natural for us to have doubts about our abilities and feel inferior to others at times. Striving for superiority both causes and helps to overcome inferiority. When a person experiences feelings of inferiority too frequently and for a long time, it can lead to the development of an inferiority complex.
What can you expect from sessions with a counselor?
- A therapist can help you bring more self-awareness and acceptance.
- Assist the individual in recognizing their own strengths and weaknesses and working to empower them to overcome their feelings and achieve their goals.
- A therapist and the individual can work together to heal old emotional wounds that the individual may have experienced as a child and that are affecting their self-confidence.
