Surely it has happened to you before: you meet a person, you start talking about any topic and, suddenly, You notice that discomfort invades the conversation
At this moment it is normal for you to feel that you are the one who is causing the other person discomfort.
Insecure people: inferiority complex or simple shyness?
Until the moment you start talking to that person everything was going perfectly: you had a good day, you felt good about yourself. But from the moment you notice the discomfort with the conversation you are having, certain doubts begin to arise about your appearance, your body language, your ability to communicate… In principle, the person in front of you has an impeccable image, a good position in your company and great communication skills. But he has the peculiarity of wanting to show everyone how well things are going for him in life, whether in a relaxed context or in a business meeting.
Before these people, It is not strange that we can feel very small, insignificant overwhelmed by their personal stories that show us that, apparently, they are people with magnificent lives.
The psychology behind the attitude shown by these people was developed by the Austrian psychoanalyst Alfred Adler , who proposed the concept of inferiority complex. In Adler’s own words, people who have an inferiority complex usually spend a lot of effort overcompensating through what Adler calls the “struggle for superiority.”
Insecure people who do not know how to manage their insecurity They may try to feel happy by making the people around them feel unhappy Adler adds that this incessant struggle to feel superior is one of the most obvious signs of neurosis.
Obviously, Not all insecure people are neurotic Sometimes, insecure individuals channel this characteristic through withdrawal or shyness. In fact, they are usually the majority, but in this post we are going to pay more attention to the insecure people with the inferiority complex that Adler described.
5 signs that tell us that we are dealing with an insecure person
Below we will explain the different indicators and signals that can warn us that we are dealing with an insecure person… and with an inferiority complex.
1. He may try to make you feel insecure about yourself
In the case of people with an inferiority complex, It is quite common for them to start questioning you and making you feel bad The most common thing is that they are not especially rude or impolite; If they make you feel bad, it is precisely because they show false cordiality. It is also common for people with an inferiority complex to try to let you know their achievements and virtues at all costs. If you normally feel good about yourself but start to doubt your worth when you’re around certain people, they may be projecting their fears and insecurities onto you.
2. He needs to demonstrate his value and achievements to you
It is not an essential condition that you feel insecure when you talk to a person to conclude that that person is projecting their complex on you. Individuals who continually boast about their training, lifestyle, personal and professional achievements, and their perfect family, They may try to convince themselves that they are outstanding and valuable people
3. Frequently use false modesty
False modesty is one of the ways insecure people use to brag about their achievements. For example, you may have noticed that you have a contact on social networks who usually complains about all the trips he has to take, but In reality what he wants to show is that he has an important job
4. He tends to be recurrently critical
People who have a permanent feeling of inferiority tend to show that they have refined tastes and high expectations about everything around them. In fact, They are often criticized as snobs , because they are very critical of all the cultural products that they believe are not up to par. They use this strategy not only to give an image of special people but also as a method of self-evaluation.
5. Be careful, there are insecure people who are worth knowing
Not all insecure people have an inferiority complex. Therefore, there are people who feel insecure because they are shy, or because the social situation (the context) of the interaction makes them a little uncomfortable. To talk to these people, make sure you appear pleasant and casual , that it does not seem that you are questioning or examining them. If you create a good rapport with them, it is likely that they will open up to you and you can have a very pleasant interaction.
