Superiority Complex: Causes and Ways to Overcome It

A superiority complex refers to a person’s tendency to feel superior to others around them and to have an overly exaggerated or inflated view of one’s self. People with a superiority complex may think they are better than your friends, colleagues or relatives when it comes to their looks, position at work or finances. Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler first described the concept of superiority complex in the early 1900s. A person with a superiority complex behaves in a way that puts others down. This is not good for mental health as it can lead to anxiety. Read on to know what a superiority complex is and ways to overcome it.

What is superiority complex?

A superiority complex is a feeling some people have about themselves. They think they are better than others and more capable than others. So, they brag about themselves and display their abilities in an exaggerated manner. It’s actually a reaction to a person’s own internal perception of inferiority, says psychiatrist Dr. Trideep Chaudhary. In a desperate attempt to overcome their perceived inferiority, they brag about their achievements.

What are the characteristics of a person with a superiority complex?

If you go by the 2013 study, having a superiority complex is very common. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that most people are biased toward themselves. The study revealed that many rate themselves higher than the average person. A person with a superiority complex may:

• Overcome others
• Be assertive to the point of being aggressive to get their point across
• Denigrate others
• Don’t be so concerned about how someone perceives their behavior that they may act hostile or dismissive.
• Exaggerate their abilities
• Try to control and dominate others

Why do people have a superiority complex?

Many factors lead to the development of a superiority complex, especially parenting, the expert said.

• Abuse and neglect can lead to a heightened sense of inferiority and a reactive superiority complex. Sometimes a pampered child may have a false sense that once they go out into the outside world, others will take care of them and bring a sense of entitlement. This leads to having a superiority complex.
• Comparisons with siblings or other family members.
• As a defense mechanism to avoid feeling inferior, a person may develop an exaggerated sense of superiority.

What is the effect of superiority complex on mental health?

A superiority complex is not included in the official classification of mental health disorders, but having such a complex is not healthy.

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• This leads to a lack of self-worth. This is because of the underlying inferiority complex.
• A constant need to maintain superiority can lead to anxiety
• Rejecting others can lead to low self-esteem in those people. In turn, they may distance themselves from the person with the superiority complex. Therefore, the individual’s personal domain may be affected. This makes it difficult to maintain relationships at work and in personal space.

What are the ways to overcome superiority complex?

Try these tips to overcome a superiority complex:

• Self-awareness is important. So, identify the thought patterns that lead to consistent boasting.
• A superiority complex develops from an underlying sense of inferiority, an inability to admit faults. Acknowledging that nothing is perfect and that it is always a work in progress can help resolve conflict.
• Practice empathy in everyday interactions with others to understand another person’s point of view.
• Realize that not everything you say will be acceptable to everyone. So, learn to accept criticism or practice the art of listening, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
• You may be exceptional in one area, but not so good in others. Practice recognizing other people’s successes by showing support.

Don’t forget to address the cause of the superiority complex so that you can overcome it easily.