INFERIORITY COMPLEX

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines inferiority complex as: "a basic feeling of inadequacy and insecurity, deriving from actual or imagined physical or psychological deficiency."

Inferiority complex is the feeling of being not strong enough, intelligent and inferior to others. We erroneouly equate inferiority complex to humility whereas it is synonymous to low self-esteem or self worth. The feeling of indequacy leads to many other mental and emotional conditions.

Inferiority complex makes one to compare oneself to others and end up selling oneself short or seeing oneself in a bad light.

Alfred Adler propounded the theory of inferiority complex. He believed that birth order had a significant and predictable impact in a child's personality, and their feeling of inferiority. He divided inferiority complex into two parts:

➤ Primary inferiority complex.

➤ Secondary inferiority complex.

➤ Primary inferiority complex vastly occurs in children when they are critically compared with their peers to perform better in both academic and extracurricular activities. These experiences affect the same child in their later stage of life.

➤ Secondary inferiority complex takes place in adults as a result of past experiences in their childhood. The individual might find it hard in doing easy tasks in their day to day affairs.

Women are believed to be intellectually and physically inferior to men maybe because men are exposed to far greater selective pressure than females, especially in war, competition for mates and perhaps due to the way the society is structured.

The feeling of inferiority may be brought about by upbringing, a child,  for instance, being consistently compared to siblings or children in the neighborhood. Some of the causes of inferiority complex are listed below:

➤ Economic background.

➤ Racial discrimination.

➤ Gender difference.

➤ Comparison with others.

➤ Dwelling too much on flaws.

➤ Discouragement.

➤ Depression.

➤ Lack of self confidence.

SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS OF INFERIORITY COMPLEX.

There are a great deal of signs that indicate that someone is having an inferiority complex. Some will be listed below:

➤ Feeling unworthy.

➤ Social phobia.

➤ Being self critical.

➤ Extreme anxiety.

➤ Having low opinion about yourself.

SOLUTION OR REMEDY TO INFERIORITY COMPLEX.

➤ Stop comparing your to others.

➤ Stop worrying about what others will say or what they think of you.

➤ Master your mind.

➤ Bulid your self confidence.

➤ Confront your fears.

➤ Say positive words to yourself.

➤ Surround yourself with people that will value and bring out the best in you.

➤ Believe in yourself and be yourself.

Finally, inferiority complex prevents one from fully maximizing one's potential. Choose positive self-esteem and not inferiority complex. You are special in your own way. Don't focused too much on your flaws, just work on yourself, no one on this planet is perfect, learn from your mistakes and try to be the best version of yourself.