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Roots -

Complexes were proposed by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung. Jung had his patients do a word association test, where he’d read them 100 words and ask them to respond quickly.

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Study -

Jung noticed that patients responded to certain words in an automatic or emotional way, which seem to be linked to unconscious feelings or beliefs. Carl Jung called these “complexes.”

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Definition -

It can be said that complexes are a ”personal, unconscious, cluster of emotions, memories, perceptions, and wishes organized around a common theme.”

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Complexes affect behavior and relationships -

Complexes are rooted in relationships, how we grow up, and how people respond to us. All these elements shape how we view ourselves and the world.

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Trauma -

The origins of complexes are often trauma. For example, a person who grew up with an authoritative parent may later in life have an automatic emotional response to people who behave in an authoritative manner, even though there isn't a real threat.

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They trigger automatic responses -

Complexes often trigger automatic responses to certain scenarios. As Carl Jung put it, “The complex is not under the control of the will and for this reason it possesses the quality of psychic autonomy. Its autonomy consists in its power to manifest itself independently of the will and even in direct opposition to conscious tendencies.”

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Impact -

Complexes affect how we view ourselves, relate to other people, and experience the world. Now, let’s take a look at some of the most common psychological complexes.

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Martyr complex -

This is when people put others first, to the detriment of their own well-being. People with a martyr complex tend to sacrifice their own needs and put the wants or needs of others first. Sometimes, they can engage in self-harm.

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Martyr complex -

This complex is common in people who grew up with parents who victimized themselves, where roles were reversed and the child needed to comfort the parent. The child grows into an adult not having his/her own feelings acknowledged, and puts others’ well-being first.

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Persecution complex -

People with this complex tend to be overly suspicious of everyone, to the point that it can sometimes border on paranoia. The belief that everyone is out to get them is most often unfounded, and leads to the person being in a constant state of alertness. This delusional behavior can stem from trauma, and sometimes mental health issues.

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Brother-sister complex -

More often known as “brother complex,” it can, in fact, be applicable to any sibling with a strong attachment (or even obsession) with another sibling. This complex is often rooted in parental problems and/or social anxiety.

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Casanova complex -

People with Casanova complex are often men who adore women. The name derives from 18th-century Italian adventurer and author Giacomo Casanova. Those with Casanova complex are usually charming and attractive, and have a desire to have multiple lovers, though there isn't any emotional involvement in the process.

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Casanova complex -

It’s believed that the complex stems from insecurity about acceptability, hence the pursuit of intimate affairs with women to compensate. The absence of a strong father figure leads men to develop the complex.

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Don Juan complex -

Similar to the Casanova complex, this one is more geared towards the pursuit of sexual encounters. People with Don Juan complex (again, mostly men) tend to focus on seducing and bedding as many women as they can.

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Don Juan complex -

Today, this behavior is best known as “sexual addiction.” What leads people to develop a Don Juan complex remains unknown, but it’s believed that self-abuse may play a role in it.

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God complex -

A person with a god complex doesn’t believe that they commit errors, they have a lack of empathy, and may display narcissistic traits (though not all people with the complex are necessarily narcissists).

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God complex -

These people have a problem with authority, and often judge others to their high standards, which are often impossible to meet. Why some people develop this complex is unknown, but it has been speculated that genetic predispositions and early childhood experiences play a role.

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Guilt complex -

Some people seem to blame themselves for everything that goes wrong around them. They are overly critical of everything they do, and often feel guilty for it. While feeling guilt is normal when we, for instance, hurt someone, feeling this way all the time is not. The reasons for this complex are indeed varied, and a number of experiences can cause it to develop.

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Hero or savior complex -

People with hero or savior complex are always on the prowl to rescue someone, and then brag about it. Some believe it’s their mission, while others think that doing so will make them a better person and others will recognize that. People with the complex just seem to feel good when they are helping others.

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Hero or savior complex -

While not always the case, hero or savior complex is sometimes linked to childhood trauma, mostly abandonment. It’s also common in people who had to take on adult responsibilities (e.g. care for a younger sibling) when they were young.

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Inferiority complex -

People with an inferiority complex see themselves as less than others; less capable, less adequate, and less worthy. Many times this leads them to overcompensate, project their insecurity, and feel resentment for other people. It’s a very common psychological complex.

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Inferiority complex -

Many things can lead to the development of this complex, namely childhood traumas, experiences people have as adults, and even personality traits.

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Oedipus complex -

Oedipus complex refers to a son’s feelings of romantic love towards his mother and rivalry/hate towards his father; as in sexual attraction and jealousy. Freud asserted that this happens between ages three and six.

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Electra complex -

In the case of daughters’ psychosexual competition with their mothers, it’s called Electra complex. This one, however, was identified by Jung, not Freud. According to the theory, the girl does so because she blames her mother for being “castrated” and therefore experiences p e n i s envy. It’s easy to see why Jung’s theory has been refuted…

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Parental complex (mother or father) -

You may have heard of this complex, commonly referred to as “daddy issues” and “mommy issues.” This usually refers to parental complex, where there is a dysfunctional relationship between parent and child. The person grows up trying to fix the broken relationship with the said parent, in other relationships.

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Parental complex (mother or father) -

"A negative father or mother complex may have been formed due to a father and/or mother who was physically or emotionally absent, self-absorbed, detached, disengaged from and disinterested in the child. A negative parental complex can manifest in self-doubt and/or idealization of others but may also include profound self-alienation, which may manifest in self-hatred and/or dissociation,” explains clinical psychologist Denise Grobbelaar.

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Romulus and Remus complexes -

The name is derived from the brothers who founded Rome. Remus was jealous of his brother, Romulus, and eventually killed him. This sibling rivalry is common, though luckily it seldom ends in murder.

Sources: (PairedLife) (Appliedjung) (Simply Psychology) (Makin Wellness) (Learning Mind)

See also: The different personality masks we wear

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