An inferiority complex, in the fields of psychology and psychoanalysis, is a feeling that one is inferior to others in some way. Such feelings can arise from an imagined or actual inferiority in the afflicted person. It is often subconscious, and is thought to drive afflicted individuals to overcompensate, resulting either in spectacular achievement or extreme antisocial behavior, or both. Unlike a normal feeling of inferiority, which can act as an incentive for achievement, an inferiority complex is an advanced state of discouragement, often resulting in a retreat from difficulties. Psychology (from Greek: ψυχή, psukhē, spirit, soul; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is both an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. ... Psychoanalysis is a family of psychological theories and methods based on the work of Sigmund Freud. ...

Early work in this field was pioneered by Alfred Adler, who used the example of Napoleon complexes to illustrate his theory. Some sociologists have proposed that an inferiority complex can also exist at a wider level, affecting entire cultures. This theory, which is controversial, is known as cultural cringe. Alfred Adler Alfred Adler (February 7, 1870 – May 28, 1937) was an Austrian medical doctor and psychologist, founder of the school of individual psychology. ... In the fields of psychology and psychoanalysis, Napoleon complex (or Napoleon syndrome) is a colloquial term used to describe a type of inferiority complex suffered by people who are short. ... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Cultural cringe, in cultural studies and social anthropology, is an internalized inferiority complex which causes people in a country to dismiss their own culture as inferior to the cultures of other countries. ...

Classical Adlerian psychology makes a distinction between primary and secondary inferiority feelings. A primary inferiority feeling is said to be rooted in the young child's original experience of weakness, helplessness and dependency. It can then be intensified by comparisons to older siblings and adults. A secondary inferiority feeling relates to an adult's experience of being unable to reach an unconscious, fictional final goal of subjective security and success to compensate for the inferiority feelings. The perceived distance from that goal would lead to a "minus" feeling that could then prompt the recall of the original inferiority feeling; this composite of inferiority feelings could be experienced as overwhelming. The goal invented to relieve the original, primary feeling of inferiority which actually causes the secondary feeling of inferiority is the "catch-22" of this dilemma. This vicious circle is common in neurotic lifestyles. Classical Adlerian psychology is a values-based, fully-integrated, theory of personality, model of psychopathology, philosophy of living, strategy for preventative education, and technique of psychotherapy. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... In modern psychology, the term neurosis, also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, is a general term that refers to any mental imbalance that causes distress, but (unlike a psychosis or personality disorder) does not prevent rational thought or an individuals ability to function in daily life. ...

In culture

• In the popular British sitcom Porridge, Mr Barrowclough states in the pilot episode, "Prisoner and Escort", "I got so depressed I thought I'd better go and see the prison psychiatric department, y'know let them have a look at me inferiority complex."
• In the 1964 film A Hard Day's Night, George Harrison remarks, "You've got an inferiority complex, you have," to which Ringo Starr replies, "Yeah, I know, that's why I play the drums - it's me active compensatory factor."
• In The Glass Menagerie written by Tennessee Williams, during a conversation between central characters, Jim judges Laura as the victim of an inferiority complex, and advises her to see herself as "superior in some way", relating his own experience and goals for the future - in his case, television. Jim manages to coax Laura out of her shyness.
• In The Catcher in the Rye written by JD Salinger, Sally Hayes, Holden's friend, mentions that the guys Holden thinks are snobbish and rude have an inferiority complex.
• In the TV-Sitcom Scrubs: J.D is having a fantasy where his best friend Turk is Batman and he is Robin and he says "Holy Inferiority complex, Batman! How low is my self-esteem that I'm the sidekick in my own fantasy?!". After the imaginary Turk says "It could be worse. You could be Alfred the butler.", J.D. proceeds to imagine himself as Alfred, proving his problem is even worse.

Porridge was a British BBC television sitcom (1974–1977), written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais and starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale. ... Mr Barrowclough was a character in the popular BBC sitcom Porridge. ... A Hard Days Night (1964) is a British comedy film originally released by United Artists, written by Alun Owen and starring The Beatles during the height of Beatlemania. ... George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943[1][2] – 29 November 2001[3]) was an Academy Award and Grammy Award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, author and sitarist best known as the lead guitarist of The Beatles. ... Richard Starkey Jr, MBE (born 7 July 1940), known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an Academy Award and Grammy Award winning English musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer of The Beatles. ... The Glass Menagerie is a play by Tennessee Williams. ... The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J. D. Salinger. ... Scrubs is an Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning American situation comedy/dramedy that premiered on October 2, 2001 on NBC. It was created by Bill Lawrence, who also co-created Spin City. ... Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a DC Comics fictional superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ... Look up robin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional supporting character in the DC Comics Batman series. ...

See also

• Complex
• Narcissism (superiority complex)
• Superiority complex (far more superior than Narcissism)
• Alexis Rosenbaum (social comparison and feelings of inferiority)