Blogpost # 2: Inferiority and Superiority Complex as an Indicator of Bullying

Are there any instances in your life where you dreamt of having superpowers? A superpowers that will gain you a big advantage to others? For example the ability to transform yourself into a ghost and being able to teleport, so that you can explore the farthest galaxy in the universe which is billions if not trillions of light years away from earth  or explore the deepest part of the ocean that is not habitable for  human? Or use this ability to cause mischief to others and reach your lustful dreams? In other words, did it ever occur to you that you wanted to be superior from others? Well, I’m pretty sure you do. Even I used to think that way sometimes, everyone does, and don't be conscious about it because it’s a part of being a human.

Alfred Adler

I've read an article entitled  “The Inferiority and Superiority Complex” by Alfred Adler From the site www.counsellingcentral.com  

Alfred Adler says “To be a human beings means to feel oneself inferior.” he also stated “Behind everyone who behaves as if he/she were superior to others, we can suspect a feeling of inferiority which calls for a very special efforts of concealment. It is as if a man/woman feared that they were too small and walked on their toes to make themselves taller.”

 So, the fact that you feel superior to others means that you have been undergoing some inferiority issues and most likely you feel useless and less important in some way and is attempting to compensate this by acting superior to others.

Having a superiority complex is not actually bad because it’s a psychological defense mechanism which allows us to overcome the feeling of inferiority. However, superiority complex can be an indicator of bullying when its developed the wrong way. People who had this complex tend to be hostile, unfriendly, selfish and insensitive. As a result, they just say what they want and don’t bother to listen when someone is talking; having a difficulty of maintaining close relationships; and pretends to be someone who is more intelligent or have an expertise in many areas but the truth is he/she is just an average person. Just by looking at it signs of bullying could be clearly seen. In the other hand feeling inferior sometimes can be a good thing. 

"A child is motivated by feelings of inferiority to strive for greater things. Which is the great driving force of mankind,” says Alfred Adler

In this article Alfred Adler mentioned some people who had a defect in their body or been through hardships since they were a kid like Demosthenes "who became a great speaker despite having early speech defects." people like them didn't think of their flaws as their weaknesses instead they employed it as their motivation to strive harder and became successful in their own lives.

Demosthenes

Stories like this are surely encouraging when someone has defied all odds just to be what he/she really wants to achieve his or/her golden dream. But unfortunately, it doesn't mean that when  you've been through inferiority complex you can be successful in life just like those people that Alfred Adler mentioned. It all depends on you whether you’ll see it as your weakness and blame life events or someone for whats happening in your life or you will accept the fact that you are inferior and used it as a motivation to strive harder in life. 

Just like what the title says inferiority complex can also be an indicator of bullying, according to an article written by M.Farouk Radwan entitled “Reasons why people bully others” from the site www.2knowmyself.com 

 “A person might become a bully in order to feel worthy,” says M.Farouk Radwan

  The reason is maybe in his family, he/she didn't get enough attention, for example his/her younger siblings is more favored or he/she is mistreated at home. When that happens the child might start to feel insecure or inferior and there is a possibility that in order to fill these emotional gaps he/she will bully someone. Bullies wanted others to see them as a person who is stronger than them. They also want respect so they will inflict fear or sometimes do some physical damages to others in order to get that respect because most of the bullies feel insecure, inadequate, and inferior in the inside.

“Just as we should help the people who are being bullied we should also work on helping bullies because they are as much in need of help as their victims,” says M.Farouk Radwan

I agree on what the author wants to express in this quotation. We just need to determine where the smokes came from and put it out before it became a real fire. But as long as there’s a parent who screamed at their children; parents who hit their children and established force to make their children listen to them, and the whole mindset is, “as long as you’re obeying me there will be peace in this household.”. I’m not actually against corporal punishment and I do believe that it is a good method to straighten up your Child's twisted behavior , but the parents should also know when to implement it and how to do it properly so that they wouldn't make their own Child's life miserable by living in fear.  Because it will only produce inferior children that will develop superiority complex and eventually became a bully.

 Being superior for me can be considered as a good thing, but once you abused it for your own good, to achieve something without even thinking about the consequences it can present to other people. I think that will be the time where it can be harmful. Exactly like what Uncle Ben once said in  the movie Spider-man “With great power, comes great responsibilities” so please keep it in your mind