Meera is the youngest of four children. Her parents are warm and give all the children equal care and praise. Still, from early childhood Meera felt that she could not match her elder brothers at anything, and she often stayed quiet in family games. In Class 8 she chose to join the school athletics team and trained every morning, determined to prove to herself that she could do well. Today, at 22, she is a state-level runner and feels confident about herself.
Which of the following best explains the feelings Meera carried from early childhood and the effort she later made to overcome them?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Inferiority complex, in Adler's theory
Option (1) Inferiority complex, in Adler's theory — Correct. Adler held that every person carries feelings of inadequacy and guilt from childhood, called the inferiority complex. Meera's sense of falling short of her brothers is this feeling. Her purposeful training to overcome it is what Adler saw as essential for healthy personality development.
Option (2) Basic anxiety, in Horney's theory — Incorrect. Horney's basic anxiety is insecurity that grows when parents are indifferent, discouraging or erratic towards the child. Meera's parents were warm and fair, so her feelings did not come from a disturbed relationship with them.
Option (3) Identity crisis, in Erikson's theory — Incorrect. Erikson's identity crisis belongs to adolescence, when young people search for a central direction and a sense of purpose. Meera's feelings began in early childhood and were about her abilities.
Option (4) Desire for freedom, in Fromm's theory — Incorrect. Fromm linked growth and the realisation of potentials to a desire for freedom and a striving for justice and truth. Meera was driven by a wish to overcome her sense of falling short.
NCERT (2026-27): “Alfred Adler : Lifestyle and Social Interest |