A Superiority Complex equals to lack of Emotional Intelligence. Studies suggest that a long-term success in your career is directly connected to the person's emotional intelligence. More the person is self-aware, and the greater they have the ability to self-manage, the more successful will they become. On the contrary, people with a superiority complex tend to have lower emotional intelligence, which could lead them to make a greater number of career mistakes.
It has been concluded that the superiority complex evolved as a result of mankind's effort to resolve the feelings of inferiority. Feeling superior may be a coping mechanism for the ones who feel depressed or inferior to others.
A superiority complex is a prominent psychological complex and can be traced just by observing the demeanor of the person. A person with superior complex will constantly boss around to show their dominance and their hold on things. They usually put on an air of liveliness and superiority and keep ordering people around with an authoritative tone.
Profound vanity in appearance, bragging, and snobbery are all visible signs of a superiority complex. They never take into consideration the feelings and opinions of other people. It’s always about them being better than the rest.
A superior person will always enjoy telling outlandish tales to stay in the limelight. And, must we add, they are very proud of their material possession and will often be found bragging about them.
They have an opinion about literally everything, irrespective of them having any knowledge of the subject or not. Just because they are aware of things, they believe that interrupting is part of their skills. They always believe that they are right. Anyone who does not agree with them will be treated coldly form thereon and is labeled as an idiot.
Superior people are most likely to lack empathy. They do not have the very ability to express empathy and understand what others feel. They are mostly very cold-hearted and moody. They are always in the “I know everything” and “I am better than others” zone. They are subject to over thinking and are always solving some or the other problems internally.
A person with a superiority complex suffers great anxiety because of the image that they have to pull off every time. Dealing with dual personalities makes their condition even more difficult to manage because they feel they are above or out-rank their peers.
Saying the above, we’d also like to mention that everyone who exhibits an outlandish and domineering behavior will be suffering from a superiority complex. Some are just born that way!
One can overcome superiority complex by inculcating certain practices in your daily lives. By bringing a few changes in your behavior, you are sure to get over your superiority complex.
Here’s how you can achieve it:
#1. Appreciations Are Not To Be Taken Seriously
Appreciating someone or being appreciated by others feels good and one should practice it. Being appreciated for something good is motivating and encouraging. But if you feel elated every time someone appreciates you, you need to stop taking appreciation too seriously. You may be good, and you are well aware of it now, but do not make a big deal out of the praises. Just acknowledge and move on. Do not indulge in unnecessary fantasies.
#2. Do Not Judge Everyone
Just because you are good at something does not give you the right to judge and degrade other people. You obviously have your opinion, everybody does. But you are not always required to voice your opinions; some things are better unsaid. Have a control on your feedbacks especially if you are not asked to voice them. Pause and think about the temptations before you open your mouth and let the judgments smash right into the person’s face.
Stop judging people because sometimes they are very hurtful and blunt. Keep in mind that whether you like someone or not, it does not matter to anyone but you, so keep it with you until asked for.
#3. Stop Comparing
Everybody has their own way of doing things, your methods may be better, but that does not give you the right to judge them. ‘Comparison is the thief of joy,' the moment you start comparing things, and you’ll stop enjoying them. So stop comparing and let things flow. Do not always intrude in what others are doing; let them do it their way.
#4. There Are Better People In The World
You may be smart, you may be intelligent, even scholarly, but there have been, and there will always be people in this world who have been or are smarter, more intelligent and more knowledgeable than you. You are not one of your kind.
Even if you excel at certain things, try to respect others for their knowledge and skills. Once you let people do things there way, you’ll start witnessing the benefits that you receive out of it. And remember that no one can take away your abilities from you.
As a substitute of telling your co-workers about what’s right and wrong, seek to understand why they think that their methods are appropriate. Don't hold them back from the opportunities.
If nothing works, then just bite your tongue before pointing out the mistakes of others. Telling people that they are faulty or inefficient is a sign of superiority. It is difficult to gain respect and trust of someone whom you have insulted. If you think that you can suggest someone a better way out, then instead of criticizing craft a few questions, the answers of which will make them understand that they are wrong. Giving someone the chance to save his face is one of the best relationship building techniques.
#5. Compliment Before Your Criticize
If you cannot resist criticizing someone, then compliment them three times more than you criticize. Be it people at your workplace or in your personal domain, they always remember you for how you make them feel. If you only dish out criticism, you should stop expecting appreciation for your good deeds. Use compliments to ensure that your criticism is not taken in a bad light. If people around you know that you love them, they’ll willingly accept your criticism and will try to make amends too.
Try to identify and embrace minimum one professional strength in people that you work with. Recognizing the value and respecting the efforts of your co-workers will gain you positive popularity in your office. The best leaders are the most humble. They are the first to say that they are far from perfect.
#6. Understand What Superiority Complex Means
Are you aware of what a superiority complex is? This is a condition where an individual emits an exaggerated feeling of being better than others. It is just the opposite of inferiority complex. Ones suffering from a superiority complex are at times obsessed with themselves to a limit where they become haughty and over proud.
If you have a very high opinion of yourself and believe that you are better than others in every sphere of life, you are surely suffering from a superiority complex. People with superiority complex believe themselves to be the ultimate genius and others to be a fool.
This exaggerated high estimation of oneself renders these people extremely arrogant and narcissistic. They start believing that there is nothing in the world they cannot do.
Do you think that a superiority complex can be cured? Let us know in the comment section below.
10 Opinions
9 Opinions
What’s wrong with having a superiority complex? I mean I know that we have always been taught to treat everyone equally because we are a part of the herd, but what if we are better than others? If I know that I can do certain things better than others then why would I still stay modest about it? Superiority complex is nothing but a person’s confidence over themselves.
If we can respect and acknowledge the talent and skills that other people possess, then why can’t we be appreciative of our own skills? Shouldn’t that be called self awareness instead of a superiority complex? And I am not saying it to make you feel any better, but this I believe is the truth. People use terms like superiority complex to make you believe that you are no better than others, and in, fact are unnecessarily confident about yourself. They do it because they are self serving, self focused and are only after fulfilling their personal aims. You just become a collateral damage to serve them. They take what they need and then move on.
One should be comfortable and accepting towards themselves and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. If you are good with leading a team or you orate well or maybe you are just a better dresser, why would you not show it off? Why would you be humble about it? If you know you are good at something, then I believe that you should gracefully accept it and in fact help others find their place.
Just know that you are better than them. If you have seen yourself and your insight and you still believe that you are better than others, then why would you live in denial? Be honest with this truth and get rid of false humility that prevents you from embracing that side of yours. People treat you poorly because they are emotionally deficit to understand your qualities and their insecurities are not allowing them to accept your superiority over them. You’re better than their sub-standard conscience and ethical derangement that would allow them to bully you, deceive you, and disrespect you. They are like a bullet that you didn’t dodge but their absence can be beneficial for you in the long run.