SUPERIORITY COMPLEX: Understanding This Behavior

Here are the things you should know about the superiority complex

SUPERIORITY COMPLEX – People should understand these things about this behavior which manifests a person’s belief that he or she is superior to others.

Those who have this behavior tend to overestimate and have an exaggerated opinion about themselves, based on the article from Healthline. Despite this kind of manner they are manifesting, deep inside they could have a sense of inferiority or they have love self-esteem.

According to Psychologist Alfred Adler people with a superiority complex use this behavior as a defense mechanism for feelings of inadequacy that we all struggle with. They tend to boast everything they have to other people but this is just merely their way to cover their shortcomings or failures.

Superiority Complex
Photo courtesy of Medium

This can begin from an early age as a child is coping up with the challenges and changes. Children may have a tendency to suppress the feeling of inadequacy or fear and then the feeling of being superior to others may surface.

On the other hand, it can also happen later in life. A person may develop this behavior during teen years or adulthood.

Here are the symptoms that can point out a person with this complex:

  • high valuations of self-worth
  • boastful claims that aren’t backed up by reality
  • attention to appearance, or vanity
  • overly high opinion of one’s self
  • a self-image of supremacy or authority
  • unwillingness to listen to others
  • overcompensation for specific elements of life
  • mood swings, often made worse by contradiction from another person
  • underlying low self-esteem or feelings of inferiority

These symptoms can also be a result of narcissistic personality disorder or bipolar disorder, according to the article. Psychologists can determine low self-esteem or a sense of inferiority and would easily point out that the case is superiority complex.

This behavioral disorder has no identified cause and it is still unclear why a person develops this. However, there are situations or incidents that can point out its root.

Result of multiple failures
This can be a cause of this complex. If people fail to achieve a certain goal or fulfill a task, there is a possibility that they will overcome the anxiety and stress of the failure through acting like they are above others.

Feeling that they are protected from their failures
When they will reach the state that they would feel that they are protected from their failures, the tendency is they will repeat it. Through boasting, they can escape the feeling of inadequacy. People around them may see this behavior as arrogance or prideful, based on the article.

READ ALSO: 10 Health “Facts” That Are Actually Not True & No Bases

Leave a Comment