Inferiority complexes

The term Inferiority complex was taken over from literature by Alfred Adler and describes today serious psychological problems. Unfortunately, often used as a prejudice, complexes are a mental disorder in which the person concerned feels inferior and inadequate. Therapy takes place with psychotherapeutic intervention.

What are inferiority complexes?

People burdened with feelings of inferiority also suffer from a negative self-image. Their achievements and successes never seem to be enough for them, because they make unattainable demands on themselves.

Affected people tend to be perfectionist, hang on to alleged character weaknesses and react depressively if what they do does not meet the high demands they place on themselves. This spurs them on to ever new, ever more extreme top performances, which are, however, accompanied by mental and physical illnesses.

Many of those affected are at risk of suicide and suffer from gender-dependent symptoms such as aggressiveness in the face of criticism, eating disorders and addictions. Those who suffer from inferiority complexes often withdraw into themselves to avoid confrontation with others. A lack of social contact and loneliness are the consequences and intensify the inferiority complexes.

causes

As with all mental disorders, the causes of inferiority complexes are to be found in childhood.

According to Sigmund Freud's research, those affected suffered from a lack of parental love and care and insufficient recognition of their achievements from an early age. According to Freud, typical parental mistakes such as a lack of breastfeeding, too little time for the child and a lack of empathic support are the causes of the inferiority complexes. Affected people were often criticized as children and only rarely praised.

Paul Häberlin supplements Freud's theories with the statement that excessive pampering of the children also favors later inferiority complexes. Because if the pampering did not take place, the child and the adult would later always be looking for this recognition, which is impossible in healthy relationships.

Even in adulthood and despite their often considerable careers, those affected by both causes are constantly looking for recognition and cannot enjoy success. Their constant insecurity and the almost compulsive habit of comparing themselves to others in everything they do make those affected into depressed outsiders.

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Diseases with this symptom

• eating disorder

• Obesity

• Borderline syndrome

Diagnosis & course

It is important to distinguish between normal doubts about one's own performance from an excessively negative self-image and pathological inferiority complexes.

The diagnosis of pathological inferiority complexes can only be made if the person concerned seeks help himself. A visit to a psychologist or a psychiatric outpatient clinic with a request for help provides information about the presence of a psychological problem and the severity of the inferiority complex.

The professional diagnosis of feelings of inferiority takes place in one or two sessions lasting several hours by completing standardized questionnaires and several discussions with psychiatrists or psychotherapists. Therapy is initiated based on the results obtained in this way.

In some cases, inferiority complexes are symptoms of a personality disorder such as borderline, in which case the cure is questionable. If inferiority complexes appear as independent problems, self-help and psychotherapy promise good prospects.

Complications

Feelings of inferiority can be associated with various mental disorders or develop into bigger problems if left untreated. For example, it is possible that feelings of inferiority can turn into social fear. People with evaluation anxiety fear that other people will judge them badly. Even if they know that this fear is exaggerated or unfounded, they often cannot get away from it.

Social anxiety often leads people to withdraw and avoid situations in which others might evaluate them. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt can also impair performance at work, at school or in front of other people in general. In some cases the performance cannot be called up only at the crucial moment (for example in an examination), although in other situations the person is quite able to perform the corresponding performance.

Other mental disorders are also possible as a result of feelings of inferiority or as their cause. These include the depressive disorders and various personality disorders. Further complications such as listlessness or suicidality are possible here.

People with feelings of inferiority sometimes feel that they or their problems are too unimportant. It is therefore important for those affected to take their own problems and complaints seriously and allow themselves to speak to a doctor or therapist about them.

When should you go to the doctor?

With inferiority complexes, it is difficult to predict when medical treatment will be necessary. Often outsiders and friends of the person concerned can assess the situation well and give the patient advice. If the inferiority complexes occur mainly in teenage years and are related to puberty, a visit to the doctor is usually not necessary. It is common at this age for adolescents to suffer from inferiority complexes. If these are limited and, for example, are related to bad skin, no medical treatment is required.

A doctor should be consulted in the case of inferiority complexes if the illness leads to severe restrictions in life. This is the case, for example, when the patient withdraws due to the inferiority complex and no longer takes part in social meetings. In the case of psychological complaints or depression, treatment by a psychologist is necessary in order to treat the inferiority complex.

Urgent medical attention is required when the patient inflicts pain on himself. Self-injurious behavior can lead to serious consequences and should therefore be treated as soon as possible. If there is general dissatisfaction, it is usually worth visiting the doctor to find out the cause of the inferiority complexes and treat them.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

The pillars of the treatment of inferiority complexes are psychotherapy and self-help.

Self-help consists of an exchange with other affected persons and the consultation of a confidant who could give neutral and objective assessments of the professional performance. A statement about the performance of those affected should be neutral and well founded.

Since the patients usually have problems asking others to assess their performance and accepting the objectivity of this statement, first psychotherapeutic discussions should take place before this step.

For inferiority complexes, behavior therapy is usually the best choice. First, the causes are explored and realistically questioned in a slow thought process. This is followed by tasks to learn new behavior and to experience what has been learned in everyday life. The aim of psychotherapy is to build up healthy self-confidence.

Outlook & forecast

Overcoming inferiority complexes without outside help is difficult, but not impossible. As a rule, they are due to errors in upbringing in early childhood. If the suffering is very severe, the help of a psychotherapist should be sought.

Still, those affected can learn to deal better with their low self-esteem. Inferiority complexes can most easily be overcome when sufferers face their fears. This method is also used in exposure therapy. The feeling of one's own worth can be increased with psychological tricks. Positive affirmations, i.e. positive beliefs that are recited regularly, help to overcome them and make you more satisfied. Through constant repetition, these sentences are firmly anchored in the subconscious. The reciting can be supported by writing down in a diary.

It is helpful to know that no human being has any particular value from birth. Comparing yourself to others usually leads to a negative spiral. A pessimist always finds something to complain about. Whoever neglects such thoughts, lives easier and freer. Inferiority complexes and the tendency to perfectionism often appear together. Anyone who allows mistakes and does not immediately react to obstacles that they think they have caused themselves can be freed from many problems.

If feelings of inferiority are associated with a mental illness, however, they must be treated by a doctor.

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prevention

Parents protect their children from inferiority complexes by giving them a healthy sense of self, being loving in their dealings with them and taking their feelings seriously. A healthy level of praise and criticism are the keys to a healthy psyche.

You can do that yourself

In the case of inferiority complexes, a psychologist does not need to be consulted immediately. In most cases, clarifying discussions with your own friends, family or with someone you trust are helpful. The person affected must not lock himself in under any circumstances and should report openly and honestly about his problem. Self-help groups can also be visited here, who can deal with the inferiority complexes.

The person affected should no longer carry out activities that lead to the inferiority complex. This includes, for example, watching programs on television in which fake desired dimensions are presented. These have a particularly negative effect on children and young people and can lead to wrong ideas. Contact with the people who contributed to the inferiority complex should also be broken.

In many cases, books and sharing experiences will help clear up the symptom. It is also always helpful to orientate yourself to a healthy rhythm of life. Above all, this includes a healthy diet and lots of sporting activities. The exchange of experiences can also take place anonymously on the Internet and can also help to resolve the inferiority complex. Adults should always teach children a reasonable sense of self-worth and thus protect them from the inferiority complexes.