New Britain herald., 1926-12-06

has been known to have the benefi- cial result of forcing the woman into a worthwhile career, since other normal outlets are closed. It is more likely to crush her for life. Alert and tactfui parents, teachers and friends are quick to help young people in this situation.
 Alfred Adler of Vienna made a special study of persons conscious of a disadvantage when they compared themselves with others. He found that the mind was first obsessed with an idea of insufficiency, then 0 protest against the inferiority, fol- lowed by very excessive self-asser- ton. Where the inferiority is not satisfactorily compensated for. there is chronic feeling of inferiorlty. The neurotic attempts to push out of consciousness the feeling of in- feriority and to turn his own atten- ton and if possible. the attention of others to the characteristics or pos sessions or attainments which he has chosen as compensations for his or iginal defects. The egoism of neuro tics, their tendency 10 envy and jealousy, their eagerness to under value others. especially their rivals, come from the inner feeling of in feriority. They naturally turn to phantasy. and take the easily reached, ploasant-tasting fruit of the tree of self deception and fancy i (Groves).
 Superiority Complex
 "The superiority complex forces men to overcstimate their own vir- | tues and attainments. They exag- gerate their own importance, and refuse to consider Ideas that would lead 10 a different conclusion.
 What we interpret as conceit often springs from inferiority in- stead. It is really an effort to over come a defect. But an overappre- citation of ones own importance is not uncommon. It is easy for a spoiled child to do this. If his asso- ciation has been largely among those who overestimate him. he will have difficulty when he is taken for what ! he is actually worth. Sensitiveness often springs from conccit. It is easy to trace these defects to infancy 1 frequently. The baby learns that satisfaction comes in response to cries. If his method always works, ! he ciIy hennT,HS n, ctjO O rf and makes all members of the household his servants. A child who has always had his own way may have the resulting mental back ground so much a part of himself that in adult life criminal acts are indulged rather than a sacrifice of personal desire. He is domineering. self centered. for he has never been taught by sacrifice to appreciate the viewpoint of others. In adult life, means for personal qualification. Normal wholesome contacts with others where conflicts of desires arise gradually develop sympathy ard respect for the rights of others. Where self-control has never been learned the ghost of the tyrannical self lives in the adult.
 Early Influence on Children Normal family life is of vital importance for the growing child. Members of the family are the first human objects of the child's inter est and love. The quality of the later love life Is based on early inn pressions received. A child thrives on love as plant thrives on sun- shine. When q child's love is not re- turned the empty heart may be the cause of later nervous disorders or of hate and anti-social conduct. 4 cold, harsh or tyrannical parent may develop the ghost of anarchy or cruelty to haunt the later adult life of the child. There may result op- position to all authority or to the particular irstitution associated with the undesira ble qualities of the par ent, e. g.. Robert Ingersoll, Johann Most.
 "A bitter sense of injustice, de- vclepcd by parents or early condi- lions may lead children to become anti-social for life The life phil osophy may be a result of this early