Entry 5

Alfred Adler was very much interested in ideas if inferiority and superiority and their connections with compensation in an individual with regards to the Darwinian theory of natural selection and fitness. Although he originally thought of these ideas on more of a physical level, they eventually proved themselves to be more ingrained in people psychologically. Inferiority is "the notion that all children experience a sense of helplessness because of their size and dependence on others: this feeling can also be intensified by real or imagined physical defects, social rejection and other factors" later on in life (Glassman 243). Compensation, on the other hand, is "a precess of engaging in activities intended to produce a feeling of superiority over others, in order to overcome feelings of inferiority" (Glassman). So, instead of seeing psychological motivation as a from of sexual tension or aggression (like Freud), Adler viewed it as a lifelong struggle to gain power over oneself and others consciously (with less emphasis on what went on unconsciously).

Thus, Adler developed the concepts of the "inferiority complex" and "superiority complex" which are responses to to childhood experiences that surface as an older individual. When a person is really insecure because they couldn't resolve or overcome feelings of helplessness from childhood, they are said to have an inferiority complex. The superiority complex is a conscious response to inferiority where a person tries to cover up for their weakness by developing "an attitude of exaggerated self-importance" which can be obvious physically or socially (Glassman 243).

I would have to agree with Adler initial impression of inferiority in children as a common occurrence. However, personally I don't think I have had any issues with an inferiority or superiority complex yet in my life. But I do know people who do have common symptoms of these problems.

As a theater person I see a lot of people who take the stage to become someone else, or to cover up for who they really are (some of the best actors are this way: totally different people on stage than off). Although most people in the dramatic arts are very outgoing and personable in real life, there are a select few I've met who are very insecure behind the scenes. Nevertheless, when they get in the limelight, they play their parts like geniuses, and are usually really good. In a different sense this shows a slight superiority complex in their personalities: they take command of the stage and have control over the audience in an overly intense way, coping with their inferiority in this way. I would have to say that it is probably a good way to respond to their insecurities in this way, rather than taking it out on other people in a work-related or social situation where people could take it the wrong way. This way, others take it as mere acting, at least.

Sources:

Glassman, William E. and Marilyn Hadad. Approaches to Psychology. New York: Open University Press, 2004.

Mark Parisi. Cartoon. Off the Mark. http://www.offthemarkcartoons.com/cartoons/1994-11-10.gif

Odiham Community. Sketch. OTMG. http://www.odihamcommunity.org.uk/system/files/ images/Acting.jpg