Page "Inferiority complex" Paragraph 1

Classical Adlerian psychology makes a distinction between primary and secondary inferiority feelings.

A primary inferiority feeling is said to be rooted in the young child's original experience of weakness, helplessness and dependency.

It can then be intensified by comparisons to siblings, romantic partners, and adults.

A secondary inferiority feeling relates to an adult's experience of being unable to reach a subconscious, fictional final goal of subjective security and success to compensate for the inferiority feelings.

The perceived distance from that goal would lead to a negative / depressed feeling that could then prompt the recall of the original inferiority feeling ; this composite of inferiority feelings could be experienced as overwhelming.

The goal invented to relieve the original, primary feeling of inferiority which actually causes the secondary feeling of inferiority is the " catch-22 " of this dilemma.

This vicious circle is common in neurotic lifestyles.