Erikson's Theory: Inferiority Complex in Adolescent Psychosocial Dev

This paper provides a literature review on the inferiority complex in adolescence, exploring its impact on psychosocial development through the lens of Erikson's theory. It examines how factors such as peer influence, parental practices, and modern technology contribute to feelings of inferiority and subsequent conflict in adolescents. Several studies are reviewed, highlighting the role of supportive friendships, positive peer influence, and healthy parental relationships in mitigating the negative effects of inferiority complex. The review also addresses how academic performance and social media can exacerbate these feelings, leading to social isolation, psychological disorders, and strained family relationships. Ultimately, the paper concludes that addressing the inferiority complex requires a multi-faceted approach involving supportive environments, positive relationships, and effective coping mechanisms to foster healthy adolescent development. Desklib offers similar solved assignments and past papers for students.

Running head: ADOLESCENCE AND THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
ADOLESCENCE AND THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
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ADOLESCENCE AND THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
As discussed by Arnett (2012), adolescent is a critical time when many changes take
place that involve biological, cognitive and social development. Most prevalent problems
observed in the adolescent is psychological problem such as inferiority complex which gives rise
to the conflict that in turn make the majority of the adolescents socially distant since adolescent
is a very sensitize stage of development which shapes an individual as an adult, any minor
inconvenience affects the development of adolescent well-being which further affect quality of
life. This topic of inferiority complex and associated conflict catches the focus since a majority
of the adolescent suffering from the inferiority complex due to the peer pressures, influence
technological as well as the poor parental practice which affected their psychological
development. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the reason behind inferiority complex of
adolescent and the associated conflict with the assistance of Erikson’s theory of psychosocial
development. This paper will illustrate the details of research articles in order to provide an
empirical literature review in the following paragraphs.
Literature review
In the study, Jones et al. (2014), Erikson contended that during the psychosocial
development an individual goes through different stages of changes which shape them as an
adult. The author suggested that out of eight stages, the fifth stage of the psychosocial
development is the stage where individuals meet identity crisis due to the inferiority complex
that leads to the conflict in the family. The authors conducted research on the college students
who were from the department of psychology, sociology and human development and provided a

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questionnaire to identify the reason behind the inferiority complex that gives rise to the conflict.
The researchers used different assessment tool in order to assess the role of friendship and peer
influence in giving rise to the identity crisis followed by frequent conflict and social m isolation.
The study suggested that two friendship characters were directly related to the identity status
development. The supportive friendship or positive peer influence reduces the possibility of
developing conflict in adolescents; however, negative peer influence gives rise to the inferiority
complex and a sense of not feeling good about themselves. Consequently, the sense of not
feeling good enough or inferior gives rise to conflict not only within friendship but also with
family members. It also implants trust issues within the adolescent as well as compelled them to
be socially distant. It diminished the stability of the relationship with the family members due to
sudden aggression and violence. Therefore, in order to reduce the inferiority complex positive
peer influence, supportive friendship, supportive parental practice help in developing the
identity, resolve conflict with family member and friends and it helped to develop the trust
within the relationship which is a root of every relationship.
Duarte, Pinto-Gouveia, and Stubbs (2015) stated a similar kind of opinion regarding the
inferiority complex. Peers have a significant effect on the adolescent which shape their identity
as an adult and amend their personal values and beliefs. The authors stated that bullying by peers
has a significant effect on both body imaging and disorder eating. The researchers conducted
randomized trial control on 290 adolescent girls and involve them in assessments in order to
identify the reason behind inferiority complex and the possibility of involving in the conflict with
peers and family members. The researchers found out that bullying includes ridiculing someone
by calling them with different names, physically abused is another common experience,
experienced by the adolescent. Consequently, it leads to the victimizations and possibility of

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conflict with peers and family members. The study suggested that the inferiority complex
reduces self-esteem as an adolescent, give rise to psychological disorders such as depression
anxiety.
Another study by Curtis (2015), the adolescent is a distinct phase where they frequently
face inferiority complex which further gives rise to the conflict with family members, peers and
other members of the community. The author stated that social aspect is the key factors that give
rise to the inferiority complex and that further induce conflict. Authors stated that in few cases
the inferiority complex generally developed due to the elder siblings and poor parental practice.
Therefore, it will also give rise to the emotional conflict with the parents and, affected personal
values, beliefs and personal identity. It was frequently observed that usually adolescent become
socially distant, consume alcohol, cigarettes. The authors conducted a review on the adolescent
by collecting information from the different primary study. The author suggested that although
parental practice plays a crucial role in giving rise to the inferiority complex as well as proper
parental practice can reduce the inferiority complex. Like the previous author, this author also
agreed that peers play a massive role in giving rise to the inferiority complex, role confusions,
especially peer from different gender. The adolescent has a hard time believing in themselves
and their role in the society, accepting their imperfection which further makes them being
socially distant. Therefore, supporting peers reduce the prevalence of the inferiority complex and
associated conflict.
On the other hand, another study by Berros et al. (2018), argued that the Smartphone is
also a crucial factor behind development of the inferiority complex in adolescent and associated
conflict. The authors suggested that the use of a smart phone in the adolescent in the era of
modern technology is another reason behind inferiority complex that gives rise to the conflict of

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ADOLESCENCE AND THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
opinion with parents and peers. The authors conducted a case-control study for the evaluating
effect of the Smartphone in giving rise to the inferiority complex. Moreover, the authors
suggested that the smart phone helps them to connect with other peers all-around the world.
Therefore, the adolescent who makes their false image in the social media induce inferiority
complex to the other adolescent. In order to have the life they portray, the majority of the
adolescent involved in the conflict with the family members and expressing anger, aggression,
and violence. Sometimes it also leads to self-harm.
Another study by Deb and Carri (2018), suggested showed a different perspective of the
peer influence in giving rise to the inferiority complex. The authors showed that the inferiority
complex produced in the adolescent due to academic performance in the university. The authors
also suggested that during comparison with the peers regarding academic performance or
compared by teachers has an adverse effect on the personal values of the adolescent. The
parental practice also comes into the play for giving rise to the inferiority complex and the
possibility of involving in the conflict. The researchers conducted the study on the basis of the
academic performance of 160 university students. The result suggested that the academic
performance can give rise to inferiority complex and they tend to feel low about them, they have
a tendency to self-harm and giving rise to the psychological disorders. Therefore, in order to
reduce the prevalence of inferiority complex, comparison with peers should be reduced.
Conclusion
Thus, from the Erikson's theory of psychosocial development it can be concluded that the
adolescent is the sensitive developmental phase of the individual which shape them as an adult to
live a quality life. The majority of the others identified the peer influence and friendship as a key

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ADOLESCENCE AND THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
factor for an inferiority complex. The authors also highlighted the role of parental practice and
hostile parental relationship as well as elder siblings as the reason of inferiority complex. In
order to resolve the issues related to the inferiority complex, the supporting peers as well as
quality friendship, accurate parental practice, excellent parent children relationship and excellent
teaching skills are required which also reduce the conflict and tendency of becoming socially
distance.

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References
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Retrieved
from:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320874666_Longitudinal_Links_Between
_Identity_Consolidation_and_Psychosocial_Problems_in_Adolescence_Using_Bi-
Factor_Latent_Change_and_Cross-Lagged_Effect_Models