Superiority Has An Inferiority Complex

I have always believed that people who have a need to make themselves superior to others (put others down in order to feel good, constantly reinforce how much “better” they are than others, etc.) are driven by a sense of inferiority, or a fear that they are not enough, or that something is wrong with them.

This can show up early in life as the school yard bully who picks on smaller kids to show how tough or “superior” he or she is. Underneath almost all of this bluster is an insecure child who has probably been receiving negative messages about their lack of worth at home. Sadly, this superior/inferior behavior can continue into adulthood, which often results in a string of failed relationships and conflict among coworkers or business partners.

Of course, the “superior” adult doesn’t seem to be frightened or insecure. Quite the contrary, these people are often seen as totally confident in who they are, and if there is some sort of psychopathology involved (psychopath or sociopath, etc.), they may even believe in their own superiority. More commonly, however, underneath the self-aggrandizement is a person who worries constantly about how he or she is seen by others, which results in their being very “thin-skinned” or someone who often reacts to criticism by lashing out at those who dare to challenge them.

We can look at history to see examples of those who are truly confident versus those who act superior, but are actually overcompensating for feelings of insecurity…Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, Jesus, and Buddha are good examples of truly confident individuals, while Hitler, Mussolini, Joseph McCarthy, and Saddam Hussein would likely fall into the category of those who had a need to be superior based upon a fear of being inferior.

Therefore, I suggest that those of us who are looking to create a better life look at our own tendencies to see ourselves as “better than” others, and make purposeful choices about what perspectives we want to hold on to, and which ones we want to change. In other words, when our confidence allows us to move into the world in a way that is helpful and supportive… when feeling good about ourselves doesn’t require that we put others down, when we can respond to criticism with curiosity, looking to see if there is indeed something to learn from hearing another’s perspective, then this self-confidence can indeed serve our highest purpose.

However, when we find ourselves feeling the need to always be right, and belittling those who disagree with us, when we find ourselves constantly bragging about our accomplishments and reacting vehemently to criticism, these can be signs that we are being driven more by fear and insecurity than true confidence. In which case, those of us who are aware and are willing to take responsibility for who we are and who we are becoming can use this as a valuable signal to shift from an insecure, fear-based perspective to one where we can be proud of who we are, while at the same time, seeing others (even those who may disagree with us) as valuable and worthy as well (or at the very least, see difficult people as frightened versus frightening).

Bottom line, if our goal is to truly create a better life for ourselves and our family, and leave a better world to our children and our grandchildren, then trusting in love, support, curiosity, and our own self-worth, versus fear, superiority, rage, and reactiveness will be the key. This can only be done, however, by the truly confident person.

[jasonking]

I believe my best friend is suffering from this, in the recent months he has been acting strange and "superior" he has told me he feels he posesses an extremely high intellect and views everyone (including me) as inferior and dumb. However, from my deep understanding i know deep down he is very insecure and is constantly seeking attention and validation when we are in a group. As mentioned in the video he does not accept criticism on any subject and immidiately starts mocking and harassing the person that gives him the criticism.

I want to end this friendship because it is having a negative impact on my mental health (i feel annoyed and angry at him for behaving arrogant and narcissistic).

However, I still want to try and help him because that is what friends do. But, I am afraid he will react aggressive and will be in denial if I confront him with this issue.

How do I best approach this situation?

[isuruFO]

i was really confused with the concept and i tried to look up a youtube video on it but ended up with those rubbish k-pop videos. this really helped me a lot, thanks

[Unblahyourself_]

Yes, superiority has inferiority complex. Otherwise why would anyone try to belittle others, if one is really confident. I have always thought like this and this video clarifies all. 😊💗

[rodannnkekw]

Thank you very much for the video. I have always been treated as someone inferior since childhood, and to try to combat those feelings, I clinched to the skills I was good at and feeling superior because of it, because it gave me a feeling of self worth.

[simonasaifur]

truly, i don't know how to feel about this. this kinda called me out and now I'm confused.

[alimpanmandal]

I am 18 years old doctor and I can't thank you enough for how valuable your information means to me....I have always had feelings of superiority quite subconsciously of others which has held me back from doing a lot of things that others do, held me back from a lot for explaining it so well..I will try and live life being confident not superior

[iwontreplybacklol]

I met this one "real estate" investor once. He put out the invite to meet up with people because he was in town. So i said, sure, Ill swing by on your way out of town so as to not inconvenience you. Well, long story short, the guy was an.a$$hole. he blamed me for the traffic and yelled at the cashier at the restaurant and stormed out. I asked what the matter was and he wasn't being served like the master he is..what a freaking douchebag. There is a lot of fake big egos in the real estate investing group, they definitely have an inferiority complex they are trying to make up for. A lot of them dont believe in death, lol.

[ennergyspotato]

How do i stop thinking im special because i know im not but i don't want to believe it

[JC-fxwh]

Being inferior is 10 times worse than being superior.

[steen]

look at me look at me i'm winning the contest

[paulidevoss]

Great video but I noticed the only person you didn’t give a name to was ‘that girl who stood up to the taliban’. Her name is Malala Yousafzai. This is how people are forgotten by history over time

[malikwaqar]

I am from pakistan I love ur concept sir great ....in paksktan mostly ignorant bosses specially those from militry always try to act they r superior in fact we consider them jokes and always make fun of them

[miss.bitchswerve]

I am just researching this topic and it’s very interesting! I am trying to understand ppl with this type of problem!

[giosueagius]

I don't think I'm better than everybody. However, I do feel superior to some people, not because of beauty or wealth or family lineage but because of their ignorance. Their voices are the products of their ignorance. They have no manners, they have no intellect and knowledge. I literally call them "The Lower class" or "The lowest of the lowest" or " The murk of society". I just can't help it because it's true that some people are inferior and what I mean by an inferior is people who by their standards end up causing hell for other people and I start wondering whether these people even knew what a categorical imperative was. I don't know if I have a superiority complex, which would be bad, I admit.... Or whether I'm simply being dead honest. People such as you, an intellectual makes me feel comfortable and want me to have a debate or conversation with you. With the thugs out there, I just want to plainly avoid them and avoid idiotic conversation with them, I've tried conversation with them but they act without manners, talk only of sex and how they are going to rape that one or have sex with the other and how they love injecting themselves with chemicals and drugs. How can I not feel superior over such weak-minded and undisciplined people?

[WezaMind]

I suppose compassion for self (when you know you have this pattern) and others (when they seem to have it) is really the lever that would enable us to overcome it and not propagate the chain. Thanks though.

[telekinesesufoslaurievelez]

Thanks for shedding light on this I have come across people I work with like this

[ClassicEdge]

Fantastic video, I have a coworker who exhibits these behaviors and I just wanted to figure out what was wrong with them for my own sanity.

[steen]

how many ways are there to be superior

[valkoinnnakm]

I can just imagine you spitting ouT-this speech..in jail😂😈😃

[steen]

it might get people out of their houses