The Psychology of Personal Growth and Better Relationships

4What Are Feelings of Inferiority?

Feelings of Inferiority to Oneself and Others

Feelings of inferiority were discussed on page 80 and defined as “a sense of deficiency based on a subjective opinion.” In Adlerian psychology, this is less of a comparison with others and more of a negative feeling caused by how you are compared to your ideal self. Pity, frustration, irritation, envy, panic, disquiet, disappointment, anger, and so on are all collectively feelings of inferiority.

The origin of Yukari's feelings of inferiority begin with her one‐year‐older brother. But at some point, she developed her own goals and started making an effort to move herself toward them. Generally, feelings of inferiority are not good, but, according to Adler, “They can be a stimulant for healthy growth and effort. Everyone has feelings of inferiority. They cause us to pursue success and superiority. Exactly this constitutes our psychological life.”

Feelings of inferiority serve at least two purposes:

1. They are the emotion that accompanies trying to live a better life.
2. They are an irreplaceable friend. If you look at all you have today, a lot of that has feelings of inferiority to thank.

If you are someone looking to grow, like Yukari, you should embrace these feelings because they “can be a stimulant for healthy growth and effort.” These feelings are proof that you have a purpose, and they tell the ...