Inferiority complex

An inferiority complex was one's belief that one was inferior to others of their association.

In 2374, the impostor known as Steth, after having assumed Tom Paris's form, explained to The Doctor that he felt inadequate compared to the Doctor's superior abilities in medicine, and felt he would never measure up to him, despite his best attempts to do so. He offered this as his reasons for making mistakes in the tasks assigned to him.

The Doctor, seeing the "classic signs" of Paris's previous "misplaced aggression" and "shirking of responsibilities" in a new light, diagnosed "Paris" with an inferiority complex and noted that he had been unaware of the effect his "superior abilities" were having on "Paris"' psyche. He gave his assistant the rest of the day off to think about his good points and his worth. (VOY: "Vis à Vis")

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