There are often deep feelings of inferiority and pain that never seem to go away. For some, therapy can help them work through their feelings. Dealing with someone with a superiority complex that thinks they are better than you can be frustrating and challenging. At worst it is lose-lose. While superiority complex is not technically a diagnosis, it is one way people choose to deal with feelings of inferiority. They may treat others in an imperious, overbearing, and even aggressive manner. 6. She probably thinks she can do what she wants coz everyone sympathises with her being childless, and since no one says anythign she gets all . The term "superiority complex" is a behavior indicating that an individual believes they're head and shoulders above the rest. Try to step away from status and win-lose thinking. For instance, it might be the aftereffect of various disappointments. Another option: agree with whatever he says, with a little smirk on your face - not sarcastically, but like you're agreeing with an eight-year-old's ramblings. They tend to demotivate you often, shoot down your ideas and you find yourself in a constant fight to be heard. Advertisement. An employee with an intellectual superiority complex, for instance, may think that they have the highest IQ in the workplace. It may not be a big deal for someone who never had a panic disorder, but it is for me, & that's enough, as it's my life. Persistent low self-esteem. 1. don't compare - when you compare yourself with others then you will always find people who are better than you or who are doing worse than you. One way is roll your eyes, show them the palm of your hand and say, "Pull-ease!" Then ignore, avoid or totally cut them off from your life. You need to learn to change your self-defensive need to overcome inferiority and change your feeling of the need to be above others. Various circumstances or incidents might be the main cause behind it. Try moving the conversation and situation towards win-win. Individual . In natural psychology we see this phenomenon as unfortunate and in the existential sense absurd but not as a mental illness. the superiority complex is difficult to live with, it alienates people and ultimately means that the relationships they have are based upon false feelings. Oh poor you, I cant imagine how hard it must be for you. As a result, this may cause them to treat others in ways that are condescending or demeaning, although they don't always have self-awareness to know this is how they are coming across to people, according to licensed mental health counselor Hailey Shafir, M.Ed . Like Lowery says, it's usually a result of emotional pain. He behaves as if he is the boss, while he is not. A person is said to have a superiority complex when they have an overly exaggerated, confident, or inflated view of themselves. A person with superiority complex is overly confident. Appreciations Are Not To Be Taken Seriously. the superiority complex is covering up weaknesses and vulnerability in the person that need to be explored and attended to before more serious problems develop. This is the first point to dealing with them, learn to realize that you cannot change them or their behavior. Being appreciated for something good is motivating and encouraging. A superiority complex is a defense mechanism that develops over time to help a person cope with feelings of inferiority. e.g. [1] [2] Individuals with this complex typically come across as supercilious, haughty, and disdainful toward others. Opposite of the inferiority complex is superiority complex, but both have almost similar signs. Causes of superiority complex. Superiority complex is usually a direct result of an underlying inferiority complex. By bringing a few changes in your behavior, you are sure to get over your superiority complex. Appreciating someone or being appreciated by others feels good and one should practice it. But that doesn't help if you are in daily contact with this person -- or even like and love the person. They will often resist this as they see you winning as them losing. Although it might seem counterintuitive, those dealing with a superiority complex will often have underlying feelings of low self-worth that are actually at the heart of their behavior. For example 4 years ago, this time, I was having 7/8 panic attacks/day & was in a bad way. Make a list of your actual accomplishments without exaggerating.. Dealing with a boss that has an inferiority complex is especially terrible as they tend to see your airing of ideas and opinions as a way to belittle them. Confront their concept rather than their personality to negate their actions. Nothing hurts a superiority complex like the feeling that you're not having any sort of impact. Having a superiority complex doesn't always make someone a bad person. A good dose of humbleness and humility will work. But I have also noticed that behind this superiority complex there's an . [3] [4] #1. if you compare yourself with people who are doing better than you then you will have inferiority Having a superiority complex doesn't always make someone a bad person. Part 3 Finding the Power to Change Download Article 1 Overcome the superior tendencies. And ego, well too big, small exampleshe would join the call (team meeting) at the end even after the manager has introduced himself. She has a major inferiority complex, not a superiority one, and in fact she seems completely rudderless, someone who has lost direction in her life. Below are some ways to overcome the superiority complex: Acceptance The first stage of overcoming the superiority complex is by accepting that you are flawed and recognising the signs.. People who have this complex often carry exaggerated opinions about themselves. This one is probably the easiest of the three ways of dealing with these types of people. The person who has superiority complex usually claims that his opinion is always better than others and that he's more important than his peers. Compare yourself to yourself over time. Because the person suffers from feelings of inferiority he compensates by moving in . Like Lowery says, it's usually a result of emotional pain. It's possible to overcome these feelings. To deal with such a person, try to focus on the brighter side for your sake. For some, therapy can help them work through their feelings of inferiority so they don't have to act out in ways that hurt themselves and others. It is still not clear why anybody builds up a superiority complex. A person with an inferiority complex can hide his/her insecurities by using the mask of a superiority complex. this comparison leads to division and create inferiority complex or superiority complex inside you. At best both people get a little out of most encounters. Ultimately this means they likely have deep-rooted feelings of depression and sadness. You may become angry and upset that they simply will not listen to anything you have to say and immediately dismiss it. Here are some strategies you can use to build healthy self-esteem without putting yourself down or overestimating your abilities. Now I'm calm & doing ok. That gives me a certain sense of achievement. Persist with adult, peer interactions (not parent-child) with them. Many times, I ignore his behavior thinking he has mental problem, let me oversee it. On the other hand, if we inquire into a superiority complex and study its continuity, we can always find a more or less hidden inferiority complex." 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