of social adaptation whether a man is easily discouraged or has a sound morale. One important aid for joyous living is the saving grace of a sense of humor. Many a catastrophe has been deprived of its sting by a good hearty laugh. When a man can see the humorous side of his weaknesses, there is little chance for a morbid sense of inferiority. "A sense of humor," says Burnham, "is the sovereign prophylactic against a feeling of inferiority." 25 Temperamental factors, such as emotional frequency, emotional breadth and strength, characteristic mood, and emotional attitude, determine how an individual will respond to the consciousness of inadequacy.26 Ac Recent study has concentrated upon two mechanisms of temperament, extroversion and introversion. cording to Jung there is in each one of us a sort of mental energy or libido which is available for adaptation to the environment. A more familiar term, which carries the meaning of libido, is interest. The extrovert is interested primarily in manipulating the environment; the introvert, in thinking, particularly of his own inner life. In the normal person these two tendencies are balanced, but in the exceptional man one mechanism preponderates.27 "A typical attitude always signifies the merely relative predominance of one mechanism." 28 Extroversion is the primitive biological function of the mind, through which means the indi25 W. H. Burnham: The Normal Mind, p. 400. tirely orien ego. Feel vidual is ha "F. H. and G. W. Allport: "Personality Traits: Their Classification and Measurement." Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology 1921, 16, 1-40. E. S. Conklin: "Definition of Introversion, Extroversion, and Allied Concepts." Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology 1923, 17, 367-382. C. G. Jung: Psychological Types, p. 13. most domi ual seeks to adapt himself to the environment. en action runs into difficulties, the libido is turned ard. Introversion, therefore, is the result of malptation.29 The person with feelings of inferiority is typically an rovert.30 Inferiority is characteristic of the introt and of all persons in whom the libido is subjecly orientated and consciousness is identified with the 31 Feelings of inferiority indicate that the indiual is having a hard time to adjust himself. Unforately, the sense of inferiority produces an overentuation of the ego which, in turn, viciously aggraes the maladjustment.32 When a man faces failure, begins to think of the disgrace he will suffer, and the ospective attitude which takes possession of him kes defeat doubly sure. Among the introverts are found the weakest and the st dominating figures of history. A highly sensitive, ative mind leaves a man ill at ease in the world of ion. The introvert constructs a world of his own h which to oppose the world of nature. The product autistic thinking may be grandiose delusions or a tem of philosophy. Aristotle observed that men inguished in philosophy, politics, poetry, or art, bear to be all of a melancholy temperament. Inner blems come much harder to the reflective and intive type of mind which characterizes the introt.33 This sort of individual prefers to work alone ere he does not have to adjust himself to other peoA. G. Tansley: The New Psychology, p. 88. C. G. Jung: op. cit., p. 119. B. M. Hinkle: The Recreating of the Individual, p. 237. 1923. William James: Principles of Psychology, II, p. 538. 1890. UNIVERSITY OF RUDUOAN |IPOADIra 84 ple. He favors intellectual competition to athletic contests. His views are radical, since he wants to change the world instead of adjusting himself to it. The introvert withdraws from the world to devote his time to thought. He can express himself better in writing than in speech. To this type belong the classicists, who "are slow to react, produce with much difficulty, are little capable of teaching or of exercising direct personal influence . . . living apart and absorbed in themselves producing works of perfection which often bring them posthumous fame." 35 The introvert is the tender-minded philosopher, whose interest is in subjective values and whose enjoyment is supreme when he transcends experience with abstract reasonings.36 Mystical contemplation fascinates him, for in the safer heights of abstraction he can dominate his insubordinate and turbulent affects. The introvert is an egotist "the objective world suffers a sort of depreciation, or want of consideration, for the sake of the exaltation of the individual himself, who then monopolizes all the interest, grows to believe no one but himself worthy of consideration." 37 The feeling of inferiority, in predisposing an individual to introversion, is an impelling force toward compensatory achievement of an artistic and philosophical character. Temperament, as I have already stated, is intimately related to the bodily constitution. The glands affect the whole personality. For example, the development of masculine and feminine characteristics depends upon Max Freyd: "Introverts and Extroverts." Psychological Re view 1924, 31, 78-79. C. G. Jung: Analytical Psychology, p. 292. 1916. "W. James: Pragmatism, p. 9. 1907. STC. G. Jung: op cit., p. 288. masculine Woman. garded as perament that cries the functioning of certain glands, especially the gonads. The glandular make-up of a male may be such that feminine traits are determined. The boy with a tender skin cannot expose himself to the summer sun as long as his tougher companions. I have heard men say that they hated their curly hair because it looked so effeminate. The delicate, frail child is "mamma's little boy." A high voice or a graceful ambulation betray the feminine characteristics. The gonads, therefore, are responsible for the conditions that form the basis of the masculine protest. No man wants to be taken for a woman. Given a few feminine traits, which are regarded as irritating defects, and given a sensitive temperament, and you can predict a feeling of inferiority that cries out for thoroughgoing compensation. THE GENESIS OF AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX IN In concluding our discussion of the genesis of inferiority feelings, it will be helpful to review briefly the career of Edgar Allan Poe, covering only those points in his development that concern our special study. Poe was brought up by foster parents who spoiled him as their only child. They gave him more money than affection and Poe suffered all his days from a want of love which left his heart ever hungry and restless. As the son of an actress, he was looked down upon by the other boys at the aristocratic school he attended in Richmond. He was very sensitive to the slander cast upon his beautiful mother whom he had idealized in the mother-image. Edgar was afflicted with organic inferiority of the lungs and of the brain. He was very eager to excel in sports and his school work. Like Lord Byron, he was an expert swimmer. As Poe matured, his neurotic nature became more accentuated. He conducted himself in the peculiar manner of the spoiled child. At the University of Virginia he ran up some gambling debts that he could not pay and his honor was seriously tainted. Mr. Allan, his foster father, took him out of college and placed him in his counting room. Poe found the work distasteful and ran away. Later he was reconciled to Mr. Allan, who secured an appointment for him at West Point. Often under arrest, Edgar was finally dismissed from the Academy by court martial-dishonorably. Penniless, he could no longer look to Mr. Allan for aid. The luxuries to which he had been accustomed were suddenly withdrawn. He had been so long used to leaning on another for support that he was now helpless to take care of himself. A short time later Mr. Allan died, without recognizing his adopted son in his will. ously mala ness of his poverty p she neede poverty a too much alone in Wonder b strain of the worl The only child, through the coddling of his parents, is in adult life unable to bear the slightest depreciation. Poe was so sensitive to criticism that he frequently retaliated with undignified replies. The childish way in which he reacted to New England critics, by reciting to a Boston audience a poem he had written when he was only six years old, is evidence of how touchy was his ego. Poe could not tolerate the thought of a God who was greater than himself. "My whole nature,” he wrote, "utterly revolts at the idea that there is any Being in the universe superior to myself." while the turn, no Poe drank often and freely. His abnormally sensitive, nervous organization was gradually shattered by in very Melanch to the f scribed the ecst pensati |