The Influence of Inferiority and Striving for Superiority in Adlerian Psychology

Alfred Adler, who was a contemporary of Sigmund Freud, developed a distinct approach to psychology known as individual psychology. Unlike Freud, who believed that human motivation was driven by negative forces and competing structures within the unconscious, Adler saw personality as a unified and indivisible entity, where individuals strive to create and maintain a coherent sense of self. Adler emphasised the role that the social environment plays in shaping one's personality and focused on the importance of community and the social collective, from which one derives meaning.

One of Adler’s greatest contributions to the field of psychology was the concept of the inferiority complex, highlighting how feelings of inferiority can impact an individual’s behavior and personality development. Adler’s concept of inferiority originated from Darwinism, referring to physical weaknesses. Expanding upon this, Adler added the concept of imaginary inferiorities, such as those that stem from societal conventions.

Adler posited that one of the main sources of human motivation was the striving for superiority, as individuals work to overcome their feelings of inferiority that begin in childhood, due to factors like helplessness and comparisons with more competent family members. Adler believed that feelings of inferiority were universal across all human beings and that these feelings drove individuals towards achieving mastery and fulfilling their potential as part of their journey from a “minus” to a “plus”.

Adler also proposed that one’s approach towards these feelings of inferiority dictates the results one will achieve. For instance, if one becomes too preoccupied with their inferiorities, they may develop defensive behaviors to compensate. One example of this is what Adler called the “masculine protest,” where individuals overcompensate for their feelings of inferiority by attempting to assert power, dominance, and superiority over others in order to gain respect. A classic case of “masculine protest” is the stereotypical schoolyard bully who asserts dominance through physical and verbal force. Schoolyard bullies, however, usually lack a sense of self-worth and confidence, and so they compensate for these feelings of lack and inferiority by asserting dominance over others in an attempt to quash these feelings and achieve superiority, although these feelings of superiority are often exaggerated and superficial.

Adler believed that striving for superiority is a lifelong goal and that it is essentially unattainable because new challenges are constantly emerging. Therefore, Adler argued that understanding an individual requires understanding their style of life, which represents how individuals approach their inferiorities and navigate their aspirations and challenges.