According to Adler, an inferiority complex is...

• A. An unhealthy outcome.
• B. A normal stage.
• C. A sign of high self-esteem.
• D. Unrelated to behavior.

Answer: (A)

Adler draws a line between normal feelings of inferiority and an inferiority complex, a persistent, maladaptive pattern. Feeling inferior is a natural response to real or imagined weaknesses and can motivate growth. When those feelings remain proportionate and flexible, they help a person develop and strive in healthy ways. But when inferiority becomes exaggerated and chronic, it can warp thinking, emotion, and behavior, leading to avoidance, overcompensation, or compulsive striving for superiority. That enduring, maladaptive pattern is what Adler means by an inferiority complex, making it an unhealthy outcome. It’s not simply a normal stage, nor a sign of high self-esteem, and it clearly influences behavior.