Adler's concept of striving for superiority has its roots in what?

• A. From a child's perception of inferiority.
• B. From parental expectations.
• C. From innate superiority.
• D. From cultural norms.

Answer: (A)

The idea is that motivation to improve comes from early feelings of inadequacy. Children naturally feel limited or dependent, and this sense of inferiority drives them to compensate in ways that help them feel competent, capable, or valued. Adler emphasizes that it’s not some actual superiority built in, but the child’s perception of being inferior that sparks the striving for mastery and achievement. External factors like parental expectations or cultural norms can influence how this feeling shows up, but the root cause is the subjective experience of inferiority in childhood.