Four Signs That Betray An Insecure Person

Have you ever known someone who made you feel inferior? Maybe he even made you feel like a complete weakling. On the contrary, you always saw that other person as being the most anyone ever hoped to be in life. Of course you’ve met someone like that before. The strangest thing, however, is that behind their attitudes of self-confidence and greatness, there is often an insecure person.

Rather, it is common for insecure people to hide their worries and fears behind an attitude of so-called self-confidence. They make others feel inferior. It is no coincidence that behind the mask of the inferiority complex we often find an insecure person.

According to Adler, people who feel inferior try to compensate for this with what he calls a struggle for superiority. These people have only one way to deal with the uncertainty of their abilities. To feel good about themselves they make others unhappy. For Adler, this struggle for superiority is at the root of their neurosis.

Insecurity and Narcissism

Today it is believed that this struggle for superiority is a hallmark of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This is a deviation from the normal development of a person’s personality. The person with this disorder is constantly looking for ways to increase their self-esteem.

In narcissism we find two kinds of patterns: the grand and the vulnerable. The great narcissist is characterized by his extraversion, his dominance and his pursuit of attention. On the other hand, the vulnerable narcissist is very sensitive to criticism and frustration to the extent that his mind eventually becomes obsessed with the criticism. In addition, their social relationships deteriorate as a result of their pretentiousness and their constant need for admiration.

In either case, when you’re dealing with someone who makes you feel inferior, it’s very likely that narcissism or a lack of self-confidence are the real pitfalls. Although narcissism is not always or becomes pathological, it is actually very common.

Self-confidence and narcissism

Some researchers believe that narcissism is better described by the terms open narcissism and veiled narcissism rather than grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism. Treatment is different depending on the type the person exhibits.

Psychologist James Brookes of the University of Derby (UK), decided to investigate how people with a strong narcissistic tendency saw themselves in terms of self-confidence. He wanted to know how they view their own efficiency and confidence in their ability to be successful. He used a research group of university students to analyze the relationship between open and veiled narcissism, self-confidence and self-efficacy.

Narcissistic traits that betray an insecure person

The study provides us with some characteristics that help define a narcissistic personality. These characteristics can give us an idea of ​​how to interpret narcissists’ behavior as evidence of their insecurities.

1. Insecure people try to make you feel insecure

Do you often wonder what you are worth when you are with a certain person? Does that person always talk about their own strengths? Suppose you are a person who generally does not feel insecure. But you do start to doubt when you feel inferior to certain people. Then it is very likely that those people are projecting their insecurities onto you.

2. Insecure people should show off their achievements

An insecure person does not always need to make another person feel insecure and make themselves feel stronger that way. Often it is enough for the insecure person to brag about his amazing lifestyle, his incredible upbringing, or how wonderful his family is. That’s his way of convincing himself that he’s really worth something.

3. Insecure people talk too often about their own modesty

Pretending to be humble is a veiled way of getting noticed. In this way you also create a feeling of inferiority in others and you make yourself better than others. Enjoying humility betrays insecure people.

4. Insecure people tend to complain about things that aren’t good enough

People with a high inferiority complex feel that they don’t have enough to be happy. Feeling insecure in the present, they focus on very high goals. They are obsessed with prestige and want to be known in the eyes of others. In this way, they show their superiority by putting superior goals first. Ultimately, this will amplify their insecurity even more when they fail to achieve those goals.

One last note

Being able to identify insecurity in those around you can help you. You will make all those doubts about your own image and your own skills disappear. Insecure people make you doubt yourself so that they feel better about themselves. When you see that this is happening, your doubts will also diminish.

Not giving in to those doubts can help you develop feelings of accomplishment. This leads to changes for both yourself and the insecure people around you. The inferiority complex of these people will not improve while you feel inferior. For it has only a temporary and instantaneous effect on them. But it can leave you a deep wound that is difficult to heal. Don’t let others walk all over you. It’s enough for you not to take what these people say seriously. Don’t take a defensive stance full of self-criticism. On the contrary, show compassion for these people who already have enough problems.