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A superiority complex is when someone acts better than others to escape feelings of insecurity.

Someone who behaves like they’re better than others may have a superiority complex. However, though they may tend to exaggerate their accomplishments and abilities, they may in fact be doing so in order to overcompensate for feelings ofinferiority.

Having a superiority complex is quite common, according toAimee Daramus, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist. In fact, according to a 2013 study, most people are biased toward themselves and would rate themselves as superior to the average person.

Aimee Daramus, PsyDSome people have a superiority complex about one issue, such as their appearance or their finances; whereas for others, trying to appear better than others becomes their most dominant personality trait.

Aimee Daramus, PsyD

Some people have a superiority complex about one issue, such as their appearance or their finances; whereas for others, trying to appear better than others becomes their most dominant personality trait.

This article explores the characteristics, effects, potential causes, and diagnosis of a superiority complex as well as some coping mechanisms that may be helpful.

Characteristics of a Superiority Complex

These are some of the characteristics of a superiority complex, according to Dr. Daramus:

For instance, Dr. Daramus explains that someone with a superiority complex may enjoy playing a game if they’re winning, but think that the game is stupid if they’re losing. “They may try to shut down the competition, throw shade at the winners, or overreact to losing because ittriggerstheir insecurities and makes them feel stupid.”

Effects of a Superiority Complex

These are some of the ways a superiority complex can affect someone’s life, according to Dr. Daramus:

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Causes of a Superiority Complex

A 2022 study that reflects on Adler’s work, including the superiority complex theory, explains that according to Adler, childhood upbringing and mental health conditions are potential causes of a superiority complex, for the reasons explained below.

Childhood Upbringing

According to Adler, children who wereoverly pamperedwhen they were young may have gotten used to having everything handed to them and have yet to have the chance to apply themselves and build their confidence and capabilities.

They may feelentitledand think the world revolves around them, which can dampen their creativity, initiative, and courage. However, once they go out into the world and interact with others who are more capable, they may feel inferior. Rather than learning to cooperate with others and adjust, they develop a superiority complex instead as a way to avoid coping with reality.

Mental Health Conditions

According to Adler, people living with mental health conditions may also develop superiority complexes because they may have difficulty coping and become deeply discouraged. This in turn can cause them to develop feelings of inferiority and feel the need to overcompensate.

Diagnosing a Superiority Complex

According to Dr. Daramus,narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)is the closest diagnosis, but it’s not exactly the same, because some people with narcissistic personality disorder are insecure and have a superiority complex, but others are narcissists who genuinely believe in their own superiority, which is a different challenge.

Furthermore, Dr. Daramus says it’s a good idea to check whether patients with a superiority complex also have learning or attention problems, in case they’ve been struggling because they’re neurodivergent and haven’t been diagnosed yet.

Coping With a Superiority Complex

If you or a loved one have a superiority complex, these are some coping strategies that may be helpful, according to Dr. Daramus:

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A Word From Verywell

Experiencing setbacks can be difficult, but it’s important to learn to cope healthily. If you need support, amental healthcare providercan help.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Superiority complex.

McCluskey MC.Revitalizing Alfred Adler: An echo for equality.Clin Soc Work J. 2022;50(4):387-399. doi:10.1007/s10615-021-00793-0

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