According to Alfred Adler, which complex is essential to overcome for optimal personality-development?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Inferiority complex
Option (1) Superiority complex — Incorrect. A superiority complex is an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance, often a cover for hidden feelings of inferiority. Adler’s point is the opposite: what each person must overcome is the feeling of being inadequate.
Option (2) Electra complex — Incorrect. The Electra complex is Freud’s name for the girl’s form of the Oedipus complex in the phallic stage; the girl attaches her love to the father and later identifies with the mother.
Option (3) Oedipus complex — Incorrect. The Oedipus complex is also Freud’s: in the phallic stage the boy feels love for the mother, hostility towards the father and fear of punishment by him.
Option (4) Inferiority complex — Correct. In Adler’s view, every individual suffers from feelings of inadequacy and guilt, i.e. inferiority complex, which arise from childhood, and overcoming this complex is essential for optimal personality development.
Note: The concept in Option (1), ‘superiority complex’, is not in the NCERT book (2023-24), which NTA followed in 2025, and not in NCERT (2025-26) either; explained here for the benefit of the students.
NCERT (2025-26): “Alfred Adler : Lifestyle and Social Interest … Adler’s theory is known as individual psychology. His basic assumption is that human behaviour is purposeful and goal-directed. Each one of us has the capacity to choose and create. Our personal goals are the sources of our motivation. The goals that provide us with security and help us in overcoming the feelings of inadequacy are important in our personality development. In Adler’s view, every individual suffers from the feelings of inadequacy and guilt, i.e. inferiority complex, which arise from childhood. Overcoming this complex is essential for optimal personality development.…” |