Do people have a basic need to feel superior to others?

[biteme]

I always wonder about things like this. For instance one reason that a lot of us work out is to stand out from the average joe. Some of us have the need to feel and look physically superior to others, some have the need to feel smarter, better looking, etc., than others. A lot of people need to be in control of others in order to feel good about themselves. Why is this do you think?

 

[machaveli]

to people i may not know this could be tru but around my friends i dont need to be superior or feel superior. they shoiuld be their to make you feel good about who you already are. this also applies in my relationships. i dont need to be better than she is otherwise it'll never last. my .02

 

[Bigsatan13]

Yes, unfortunately it is usually the ones that deserve it the least who feel this way. In todays society children are taught that they are all equal. They are not, some excell in academics, while others excell in sports and some are useless. They are not rewarded for excellence they are rewarded for failure. They are not held accountable for their stupidity. If some kid drops the ball and therefore loses the game for the team, he is told it's not his fault! Who's fault is it? The fact of the matter is there are leaders and there are followers, some people succeed and others fail. If children were taught to accept being wrong or accept their mistakes they would understand and fix the problem, not shrug it off and claim no-fault!

 

[biteme]

I agree with all this. I think this is especially true for alpha males.

I think that I'm an alpha male after doing a search on it. I wish that I were not. But, you are what you are.

 

[Puc]

i think you need to remember that people who feel superior to others are not typically those who express themselves as being superior.

It is the insecure ones who need to put others down, or compare themselves for the sake of self-gratification. Often those who appear as egotists are actually the most insecure. Look at highintensity as an example. He constantly talks about how sexy he is, etc., but as soon as someone insults him he posts a thread about how "sensitive and nice" he is. If he really was secure, he would not care about the banter on a chat board.

 

[biteme]

i think you need to remember that people who feel superior to others are not typically those who express themselves as being superior.

It is the insecure ones who need to put others down, or compare themselves for the sake of self-gratification. Often those who appear as egotists are actually the most insecure. Look at highintensity as an example. He constantly talks about how sexy he is, etc., but as soon as someone insults him he posts a thread about how "sensitive and nice" he is. If he really was secure, he would not care about the banter on a chat board.

Myself, I don't act superior to others. But I think that I am in many ways to the average joe. There are other ways that I am inferior, I can't find my way out of a paper bag. I don't like to control others but I sure don't want anyone controlling me. I buy into the sex thing about the alpha males. I have always had fantasies of screwing every good looking woman that I see and I have slept with more than the average guy by far. Nothing to be proud about, but I think it explains my need to separate myself from others.

 

[Frackal]

I consider myself superior to others in alot of ways...and inferior in other ways...I try to take a realistic view...but generally I feel superior...but I never actually brag or talk about myself to people in person...I am a private person for the most part

 

[Puc]

I consider myself superior to others in alot of ways...and inferior in other ways...I try to take a realistic view...but generally I feel superior...but I never actually brag or talk about myself to people in person...I am a private person for the most part

at this point in time i agree with you... I am still trying to figure out why you went to the thin forumn and talked about how cool you were over there. You posted that thread in the form of a question, but it was not hard to figure out that it was really a statement detailing why you were better than them....

 

[Frackal]

What did I post? I dont even remember....

 

[Lao Tzu]

I have slept with more than the average guy by far.