What is inferiority complex theory?

Inferiority complex, a psychological sense of inferiority that is wholly or partly unconscious. The term has been used by some psychiatrists and psychologists, particularly the followers of the early psychoanalyst Alfred Adler, who held that many neurotic symptoms could be traced to overcompensation for this feeling.

What was Alfred Adler’s theory?

Adler’s theory suggested that every person has a sense of inferiority. From childhood, people work toward overcoming this inferiority by “striving for superiority.” Adler believed that this drive was the motivating force behind human behaviors, emotions, and thoughts.

What is inferiority complex psychology?

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines an inferiority complex as “a basic feeling of inadequacy and insecurity, deriving from actual or imagined physical or psychological deficiency.” (1) The term dates back to 1907, when it was coined by the influential psychoanalyst Alfred Adler to explain why so many …

What are your thoughts on Adler’s concepts of the inferiority and superiority complexes?

In Adler’s theory of individual psychology, a superiority complex and an inferiority complex are tied together. He held that a person who acted superior to others and held others as less worthy was actually hiding a feeling of inferiority.

Can inferiority complex be cured?

It is possible to overcome feelings of worthlessness, inferiority, or inadequacy and live a fuller, rewarding life.

What are the key concepts of Adlerian therapy?

Key concepts of Adlerian therapy include the inferiority complex, the superiority complex, and style of life.

The Inferiority Complex.
The Superiority Complex.
Style of Life.
Build Self-Confidence.
Study Older Memories.
Observe Movements and Attitudes.
The Four Stages of Adlerian Therapy.
Adlerian Therapy for Anxiety.

What is the root cause of inferiority complex?

An inferiority complex is frequently traced to abusive or negative childhood experiences, the effects of which can persist well into adulthood.

How do you treat someone with an inferiority complex?

How Can Psychotherapy Help Treat an Inferiority Complex? Psychotherapy — talking with a supportive mental health professional who is neutral, objective, and nonjudgmental — is often effective at helping people with inferiority complex.

What causes a person to have an inferiority complex?

Causes. An inferiority complex occurs when the feelings of inferiority are intensified in the individual through discouragement or failure. Those who are at risk for developing a complex include people who: show signs of low self-esteem or self-worth or have low status in their peer group.

What did Alfred Adler mean by the feeling of inferiority?

From his understanding of organ inferiority, Adler began to see each individual as having a feeling of inferiority. Adler wrote, To be a human being means to feel oneself inferior. The child comes into the world as a helpless little creature surrounded by powerful adults. A child is motivated by feelings of inferiority to strive for greater things.

Who is the founder of the inferiority complex?

The term “inferiority complex” was coined in the 1920s by French psychologist Alfred Adler, a one-time follower of Sigmund Freud who became disenchanted with Freud’s emphasis on the influence of unconscious factors as motivators in human behavior. While Adler subscribed to the notion that underlying motivations play…

What was Alfred Adler’s theory of individual psychology?

Alfred Adler’s Theories of Individual Psychology and Adlerian Therapy 1 Compensation, Overcompensation, and Complexes. According to Adler (2013b), all infants have a feeling of inferiority and inadequacy immediately as they begin to experience the world. 2 Personality Typology, or Styles of Life. 3 Birth Order.

Which is an example of Alfred Adler’s superiority complex?

Adler (2013a) provides an example of a child with a superiority complex, who is “impertinent, arrogant and pugnacious” (p. 82). When this child is treated through psychotherapy, it is revealed that the child behaves in this impatient manner because he feels inferior.