Inferiority and Superiority Complex: Examination in Terms of Gender, Birth Order and Psychological Symptoms

Abstract

Inferiority and superiority complex are personality structures that point to unhealthy development in Adlerian theory. In this study, the aim was to examine inferiority and superiority complex in terms of socio-demographic characteristics of adult individuals, and to determine the predictive relationships between psychological symptoms and inferiority and superiority complex. A total of 361 (205 females, 156 males) adults between the ages of 18 and 62, reached through the convenient sampling method, participated in the study. Data were collected through the Turkish Version of the Adlerian Inferiority and Superiority Complex Shortened Scales, the Symptom Check List, and the Personal Information Form. In the study, it was found that the main effects of gender and birth order were significant in inferiority complex, while the main effect of birth order was significant in superiority complex. Gender main effect for superiority complex and gender-birth order interaction effect for both complexes were not significant. In addition, it was determined that psychological symptoms were a significant predictor of inferiority complex, but not a significant predictor of superiority complex.

Keywords

• Adlerian Theory,
• personality development,
• inferiority complex,
• superiority complex,
• psychological symptoms