Alfred Adler remains one of those whose researches promoted development of psychology, philosophy, and physiology on international level. His inferiority complex theory allowed finding out a new approach to some features of human behavior and motivation. Inferiority complex is one of key psychological problems of the humanity, which transforms into a number of mental disorders and physical illnesses. The aim of this work is to discuss both strengths and weaknesses of Alfred Adler’s inferiority complex and to analyze how this theory is depicted in movies and other spheres of contemporary popular culture. Inferiority complex is rooted in early childhood experiences as well as genetic characteristics and leads to a variety of psychological, mental, and physical problems.
Inferiority complex may be defined as individual’s inner feeling of having lack of self-worth. There are two major ideas concerning the origin of inferiority complex in Adlerian psychology. Primarily, the complex of inferiority is rooted in early children’s experience of feeling weak, dependent, helpless, and unable to do something. It is the result of being compared to siblings and can be intensified by constant comparison and critique. Thus, primary inferiority feelings occur in childhood and appear in adulthood as a secondary stage of inferiority feelings. During this period, adults experience inability to reach subconscious by achieving fictional final goals of subjective security as well as successful compensation for personal inferiority and weakness. In case individual cannot relieve the feeling of inferiority, this feeling causes negative emotions or depression that lead to overwhelming. Although it may seem that inferiority complex lightens problems of individuals in relation to other people, Adler assumes that inferiority complex is usually a feeling of inability to complete some task without comparison to others. Overcompensation of this feeling leads to neurotic conditions, which make people achieve leadership or demonstrate asocial behaviors.
Inferiority complex proves that failures in childhood and adulthood may lead to severe problems and oppression. Individuals who are at risk of developing this complex are also mentioned in Adlerian psychology. The following groups of people usually suffer from inferiority complex: the ones who have low self-esteem and self-worth; the ones who are of ethnic or national minority; people of low socioeconomic status; individuals with depression symptoms history; and children who were frequently criticized and punished. However, children who were raised in families where everything was done for them may have the inferiority complex as well as those who were underestimated. Children who did not make efforts to do something by themselves usually suffer from helplessness in adulthood and are unable to complete some task without additional assistance. As a result, the form of learned helplessness makes them weak and unable to solve problems. The founder of this theory suggested the following:
Everyone has a feeling of inferiority. But the feeling of inferiority is not a disease; it is rather a stimulant to healthy, normal striving and development. It becomes a pathological condition only when the sense of inadequacy overwhelms the individual and, far from stimulating him to useful activity, makes him depressed and incapable of development. (Adler 96)
Individuals who suffer from inferiority complex are likely to be disrupted by emotional and psychological processes. For instance, such individuals have problems with cognitive learning, delays in learning processes, and negative memory associations. Patients with some types of mood disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and other mental diseases are found out to compensate their low self-esteem via delusions as a defensive mechanism. Inferiority complex may result in the lack of attention in adulthood when the individual cannot feel satisfied in case he or she is not a center of attention. Depression, mood disorders, hate towards one’s own body and appearance are another consequences of the inferiority complex. Moritz, Werner, and Collani studied connection between self-esteem and psychological illnesses. The results of their research “The Inferiority Complex in Paranoia Readdressed: A Study with the Implicit Association Test” showed that “persecutory delusions serve as a defense against low implicit self?esteem, although the explicit self?esteem of these patients is still lower than in normal participants” (402). Similar results have been addressed in further researches concerning the inferiority complex and mental disorders.
There is sufficient quantity of stories, films, and books that illustrate the inferiority complex. One of the most famous applications of this theory is associated with Napoleon Bonaparte. This man was not tall and did not fit contemporary understanding of masculine beauty. Due to complexes concerning his appearance, Bonaparte wanted to compensate his inferiority by being an active warrior, governor, and lover. This approach is very popular in analysis of significant historic figures, including Adolf Hitler. Nowadays, numerous movies illustrate life of characters who suffer from the inferiority complex. For instance, in the movie Real Women Have Curves (2002) Anita was raised in a conservative Mexican family. She believed that she was too fat and too ugly to be attractive for men. As Anita’s family members, especially mother, always reminded her of her weight, she did not feel herself worthy of attention, happiness, and success. Nevertheless, she was extremely intelligent, strong, and brave: she succeeded in studies and managed to enter the University and move to New York. Her desire to study and to become a professional may be interpreted as a desire to prove herself that her body shape may be compensated via such achievements. As a result, she managed to overcome overwhelming inferiority complex via relationship with a boy whom she liked. Tight connection with this boy proved that she was worth love, respect, and admiration as well as that she was not worse than others. This movie confirms Adler’s theory concerning the importance of parents’ role in children’s self-esteem and desire to compensate some disadvantages if children are neglected or oppressed (Adler and Brett 44).
Another movie, in which inferiority complex is paid much attention, is Spiderman (2002). The main character Peter Parker was a shy, abounded, and unsociable child. He failed to form stable relationship with the society. However, as soon as he got the powers of a Spiderman, he started to stand for justice, virtue, and peace. He wanted to compensate his sociability skills by being a super-hero who was strong enough to protect the ones who needed it.
Harry from Harry Potter is a very popular character who suffered from the inferiority complex. When his parents died, he had to live with his cousins who did not love him and did not care about him completely. Harry Potter was oppressed, abused, and neglected. He was tough to think that he was nothing and did not deserve a better life. As a result, he was not self-confident enough even when strangers emphasized his skillfulness. Harry Potter even allowed his family to behave towards himself in an offensive way; that is why, feeling of unworthiness was spoiling his life. The main character is abounded by his parents who were the center of love and peace for him. Parents who symbolized virtue, life, creativity, and admiration were killed and betrayed: this is quite a sufficient reason to feel incomplete and weak. Moreover, a new family and the nearest community treat Harry Potter badly by making him doubt his strength, capacity to magic and do not allow him entering Hogwarts. This is quite a typical situation in Adler’s approach: the child is being oppressed since early childhood, while his enemies in Hogwarts and cousins intensify his inferiority complex. Though he is frequently called the most powerful wizard ever, he still doubts his abilities. Eventually, he manages to break the ties of the hostile society and makes his own decision by entering Hogwarts. Nevertheless, as it is stated in Adler’s approach, Potter’s inferiority complex is not healed or overcome.
The movie The Color of the Night (1994) demonstrates the live of a woman who suffers from split personality and inferiority complex. It is worth paying special attention to this character because her complex disorders are demonstrated very brightly despite her young age. Problems of the main character are rooted in childhood as well: she and her two brothers lived alone after their parents’ death. When one of her brothers died, the elder brother made her believe that she was not a girl, but the brother who died. Thus, the woman was made believe that she was a boy who was attacked and oppressed by his own brother. When she grew up, she realized that she did not fit her community’s anticipations and started to behave with certain persons in a different way. As a result, she had split personalities and wanted to satisfy interests of other people by attempting to behave the way they wanted her to behave. She was scared, weak, confused, and shy. This case completely fits the theory regarding ties between mental disorders and low self-esteem.
In conclusion, key components of the Alfred Adler’s approach include concepts of inferiority, compensation, and self-esteem. Children who were treated with disrespect in early childhood are likely to develop a severe inferiority complex, which can make them try to compensate their weaknesses and inabilities. Movies Spiderman, Real Women Have Curves, Harry Potter, and The Color of the Night confirm principles of the Adler’s theory. It is worth emphasizing a link between low self-esteem and a desire to utilize defensive mechanisms, such as delusions of mentally ill people. Though the inferiority complex theory is far from being perfect, its contribution to philosophy, psychology, and sociology should be taken into account.
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