Adler
Alfred Adler coined the term inferiority complex and argued that social, not sexual, tensions are critical in personality formation. As a child, Adler struggled overcome childhood illnesses and accidents. He believed that much of our behavior is driven by efforts to conquer childhood feelings of inferiority, feelings that trigger our strivings for superiority and power. So it is not surprising that he came up with the idea of the inferiority complex; he likely felt inferior most of his life and projected such feelings onto others and into his work.
INferiority COmplex
Adler believed that infants and young children are helpless and dependent upon others. This situation produces deep feelings of weakness, inadequacy, and incompetence that Adler called an inferiority complex.
He believed that individuals deal with feelings of inferiority in either of two ways:
He believed that individuals deal with feelings of inferiority in either of two ways:
- They can compensate for real or imagined weaknesses by striving to improve themselves and by developing their talents and abilities.
- They can overcompensate for their feelings of inferiority by developing a superiority complex in which they exaggerate their accomplishments and deny their limitations.
Desire for SUPERIORITY
Everyone has the need to feel successful and accomplished in life. Nobody wants to feel like a failure. Therefore, everybody has the want to strive to be superior, to be the best that they could possibly be.
Impact of Childhood experiences
According to Alder's theories, childhood experiences have a huge impact. This is because if children are so helpless and dependent on others, than it makes their experiences count all the more. Especially considering that his theories provide a deep feeling of weakness, inadequacy, and incompetence, such feelings are only multiplied when experienced as defenseless children.
References
Alfred Adler: Theory and Application. (n.d.). Practical Psychology, Inspiring Change. Retrieved April 16, 2014, from http://www.alfredadler.edu/about/theory
Hall, E. (n.d.). Key Terms- Personality. GAVS.com. Retrieved April 15, 2014, from http://cms.gavirtualschool.org/Development/Social_Studies/AP_Psychology/AP_Psychology_Softchalk/12_Personality/KeyTermsPersonality.pdf
Psych 200 Unit 12 Module 4. (n.d.). Psych 200 Unit 12 Module 4. Retrieved April 18, 2014, from http://online.sfsu.edu/psych200/unit12/124.htm
Alfred Adler: Theory and Application. (n.d.). Practical Psychology, Inspiring Change. Retrieved April 16, 2014, from http://www.alfredadler.edu/about/theory
Hall, E. (n.d.). Key Terms- Personality. GAVS.com. Retrieved April 15, 2014, from http://cms.gavirtualschool.org/Development/Social_Studies/AP_Psychology/AP_Psychology_Softchalk/12_Personality/KeyTermsPersonality.pdf
Psych 200 Unit 12 Module 4. (n.d.). Psych 200 Unit 12 Module 4. Retrieved April 18, 2014, from http://online.sfsu.edu/psych200/unit12/124.htm