Anyway it's interesting to note that the 1949 classic that Auggie blessed us with here was published by the Biblical Studies Ministries International, Inc.

http://www.BSMI.org for the link lover in you. Good stuff.

manifested through various symptoms of either withdrawal or aggressive tactics, and

through the individual’s self-adjustments made in trying to deal with his emotional

problems.

Symptoms: Symptoms of inferior feelings are of two general types: withdrawal

tactics, including self-consciousness, sensitiveness, and withdrawal from social contacts;

and aggressive tactics, including excessive seeking for attention, criticism of others,

overly dutiful obedience, and worry. Withdrawal strategies are more frequently used than

aggressive strategies. The self-conscious individual may be excessively embarrassed and

very timid in the presence of others, being either incapable of action from fear or

overactive in a conspicuous way from bewilderment. Their sensitivity to criticism

produces resentment to unfavorable comparisons, offense at friendly jests, rebellion at

correction, defense of their self-chosen course of action, desire for praise, and an

excessive attention to little things. It always suspects personal injustice and is ever ready

to make a defense. Withdrawal from social contacts shows fear of people and lack of

self-confidence, sometimes resulting in daydreaming about being the conquering hero or

the suffering martyr type. Although aggressive tactics are used less frequently than are

withdrawal strategies, the former are more violent in nature. Excessive seeking for

attention and popularity often leads to the sacrifice of principle in order to gain the favor

of others. The child may seek attention by stuttering, temper displays, and pretended

illness. The adult seeks attention by explosions of temper, bitterness toward others, and

constant irritability. Criticism of others is an effort to project inferior feelings onto others

2Barney Katz, “The Inferior Complex, Some Essential Causes,” Education, 69 (January,

1949), 293.

3

and to minimize personal failures by pointing out the faults of others. Overly dutiful

obedience or extreme submission is often used to compensate for known weaknesses.

Also, undue worry about many things may be the result of a lack of self-confidence.

Indeed, the mistakes of the past and the attainment of success in the future can be

constant objects of too much concern.

Compensation: Compensation is a method of adjustment to either inferior feelings

or an inferiority complex, utilizing a group of defense mechanisms to atone for either of

them. Some defense mechanisms are: denial of reality, distortion of reality, retreat

from reality, attack on reality, and compromise with reality. Reality is denied by

repressing a given impulse and denying its existence; however, emotions are difficult to

repress, and they often occur later in disguised form. Reality is distorted by

rationalization, projection, segregation of motives, and displacement.

Rationalization is the unconscious giving of a minor or fake explanation for an action

that was motivated by some reason too painful to admit. It occurs in two forms: the sour

grapes attitude illustrated by the fable of the fox and the unattainable grapes that he later

decided were sour anyway; and the sweet lemon attitude described by Barrie as “not in

doing what you like, but in liking what you do is the secret of happiness.”3 Projection

blames other people or circumstances for personal defects and helps to absolve the

individual of his feelings of personal failure. Segregation of motives keeps two different

set of practices from interfering with each, which involves accepting truth in one situation

while rejecting it in another. This often leads to contradictory actions of a hypocritical

nature. Displacement is the transfer of an unpleasant and destructive emotion caused by

one person or set of circumstances to another person or situation. Retreat from reality

involves regression in returning to infantile behavior, substitution of fantasy for reality,

and conversion of feelings into physical illness of a psychosomatic nature. Attack on

reality consists of the physical aggression of the juvenile delinquent and the verbal

aggression of a rowdy adult. Compromise with reality assumes three forms:

substitution of failure in one area by success in another area, sublimation by changing the

mode of expression of the inferiority complex, and identification with something bigger

and more important manifested in the hero worship of the child and the company pride of

the businessman. From a psychological viewpoint, compromise with reality is the most

desirable defense mechanism because it is relatively healthy for the individual, often

leads to better relationships with others and does not interfere with the usual goals of life.

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