What’s an Inferiority Complex? Do I Have It? [Quiz]

Are you bothered by consistent feelings that you lack for some reason? Whether you’ve always felt that way, are starting to experience them after difficult times, or feel as though they’ve come out of nowhere—feelings of inferiority can be disheartening. When occurring for an intense or prolonged amount of time, they may be a sign of an inferiority complex. Curious about if this could be you?

The Inferiority Complex

An inferiority complex is a conscious or unconscious feeling that you are somehow less than other people. These feelings may come about as a result of childhood experiences, innate personality traits, or develop later in life.

Symptoms and Treatment

An inferiority complex can result from having a deficit of personality traits or skills, a byproduct of having experienced abuse or imagined by the sufferer entirely.

Symptoms for an inferiority complex may vary, and can highly contrast when it comes to how they feel versus how they appear.

How it might feel: 

• Feelings of being stuck
• Insecurity and low self-esteem
• Desire to withdraw from social dynamics
• Anxiety and depression

How it might appear: 

• Perfectionism
• Looking for faults in others
• Competitiveness
• Sensitivity to criticism
• Trouble admitting faults

Treatment for an inferiority complex depends on the cause. It may be addressed through psychotherapy that works to improve self-image and perception or to develop skills or traits that are lacking.

It may also arise from mental health conditions like depression, in which case, might be addressed through psychotherapy. An inferiority complex doesn’t need to define you. If you feel you could have one, seek assistance from a mental healthcare professional to assess a possible diagnosis accurately.