THE COMPLEXITY OF COMPLEXES- II

 Continues         

Remedy:

To get over the evil impact of inferiority is not impossible. All that is needed is honest introspection. Before any feeling grips us, we should try to understand the efficacy of our performance in our field of work. Necessarily local comparison alone is possible. If we fare well in this rating it is for us to strive to improve on it. If we are deficient, we should shake off any inhibition. Let us try to locate our follies; either in comprehension or in coordinating of steps or in the levels of execution. Seeking help on these from our immediate environment would certainly help. It is here that people fail to confide and resort to cheaper tactics of “lowering the reputation” of others. In fact a small request to them in clearing misgivings would help the growth of both besides fostering healthy relations. When the other person is more competent it is a signal that we are less competent and can not outwit him / her. Conceding to the merit is a route to avoiding failure.

Analysis:

When one realizes the inadequacy of self, he or she fails to accept that greater efforts can help acquiring skills / competence. This is because, the individual wrongly believes that

‘I am as good / even better than the other’. It is a blind faith since over the years the person has not seen really bright people. They tend to believe that they can win acclaim in public esteem. When they fail in reality, they are blindly angered. Anger knocks off

unbiased analysis. They fail to distinguish real merit from that of assumed wisdom. They do not accept that ‘we need to learn more’. Anger overshadows analysis and ruins the scope for betterment.  The question is “Is inferiority a complex?”

The answer could be Yes / No, depending on the individual displaying the attribute. One interpretation is the individual knows that he / she can not really compete for a place of pride. Therefore, he/she resorts to lowering the image of others instead of raising that of self. In this case the individual is gripped by INFERIORITY AWARENESS. However, some people do not recognize their own potential and feel can not match the requirement. This type of attitude results from the long history of family background and a general lack of exposure in handling situations of a larger dimension. Such persons need careful counseling to enthuse them into greater efforts. Such persons do not believe in maligning others. It is a dependable signal for identifying them. They should be helped to get over their feeling of inferiority complex. Generally they are amenable to reason and they do not believe in growing taller by beheading others. Often such people are docile and withdrawn. They can be identified for their merit / abilities and nurtured to shine better. Therefore it can be summarized that Inferiority complex is curable but not inferiority awareness.

The other extreme:

At the other extreme are the persons with “Superiority Complex”. Unlike those of the “Inferiority awareness” group, these do not reckon others as a cognizable entity. Since they think they are the most knowledgeable, they expect all others to tow their line. Other than this they do not deem it fit to talk about others. Given the occasion they would not hesitate to snub anyone in unmistakable terms. It is more to utilize the chance that they indulge in this act. They do not resort to denigration of any one because they are personally convinced that none else can compete with them.

On occasions they may carry things a little too far in a zeal of displaying their alertness. This can be mended by leaving them alone unless there is absolute need for interaction. Other than such “display” these persons would not like to be caught by lesser mortals and thus keep their steps clean. Though their attitudes do pain others they do not mastermind plots to denigrate others. We can reconcile to their pranks with one solace that the person is superior enough and no wonder the situation favours them. It is any day better than the calculated tarnishing indulged in by the more incompetent people. The moral in these observations is that “Any display is not welcome for the general population at large”.

.                                                                                               Prof. K. Raman.