Are generally accepted beliefs true or are they just misconceptions and prejudices? Whether there is a Napoleon complex and how height affects a man’s character is discussed in an excerpt from Jeff Rolls’ book “Women Can’t Park and Men Can’t Pack! Psychology of stereotypes".
Psychologist Alfred Adler (1870-1937) was the first to use the term “Napoleon complex” to describe the inferiority complex that is believed to affect short men, causing them to exhibit increased activity in various areas of human activity. However, in the case of Napoleon, there was a misinterpretation of the facts: a height of 5 feet 6 inches was not considered so small in his era - Napoleon simply looked short in comparison with the soldiers of the French Imperial Guard, who were taller than average.
This fact, along with many more general studies in this area, suggests that the “short man syndrome” is a fiction. Nevertheless, this stereotype is firmly rooted in our minds.
With the increasing availability of plastic surgery and numerous other treatments designed to enhance our appearance, our height remains perhaps one of the last aspects of our appearance that we cannot change. Our interest in human height develops into an obsession - this is illustrated by the general public's attention to the height of Tom Cruise, whose photograph you can see here. But why does such an obsession arise at all? Let's first look at the benefits that high growth seems to provide.
Background
Napoleon I, the Emperor of France, known for his desire for massive conquests, was not liked by everyone. His policies were sometimes too destructive, which his enemies were quick to take advantage of.
Every now and then new caricatures of the French conqueror appeared in magazines. And, as you know, caricature often distorts physical features for the worse. Today it is already known that the average height of French contemporaries at that time did not exceed 164 cm, while for Napoleon it was 169 cm. So, the emperor’s height definitely has nothing to do with it. However, the caricature image of the politician stuck.
Since then, the so-called short man syndrome has been in use: when a person has enormous ambitions despite being small in stature. It is believed that a man wants to compensate for his physical disadvantage with great achievements, be it creating a company or conquering lands.
Negative impact on life
Napoleon syndrome leads to prolonged depression, lack of desire to communicate with people and lead a social life. The individual considers himself unworthy and lonely. If a person becomes completely withdrawn, thoughts of suicide are possible. The small man complex gives rise to a huge number of stereotypes in men that poison life:
- failure in relationships: men are sure that girls will give preference to a tall candidate over him. Such a stereotype is very stupid, there is no friend to his taste and color, it is important to understand that height will not prevent you from finding the love of your life;
- bad lover: many short men worry that they will not be able to satisfy a woman, but height and success in this matter are in no way interconnected;
- short people are weak: physical development and muscle gain do not depend on height - only training and physical activity influence this factor.
A short man is sure that others see him as weak
Definition
The Napoleon complex is a complex of certain psychological characteristics that are characteristic of people with pronounced physical disabilities. This does not necessarily have to be short stature, but also other fictitious or real problems with appearance.
This behavior is most often characteristic of men. To hide the problems of short stature, low income, and physical weakness, a man tries to compensate for all this with achievements, behind which no one pays attention to his shortcomings.
We can often see this in everyday life. For example, few people care about a man’s bald head, advanced age, or third chin if he has more money in his accounts than in the economy of a small state.
I'm short: what to do
Are you short? It doesn’t matter, today the world has created all the conditions for you. Turn short stature into a weapon - and become more successful than your tallest friend.
Photo by Godisable Jacob: Pexels
Tall girls always look with envy at girls who, even when dating a man of average height, can afford to wear heels of any height. Did you know that short male politicians use special heels hidden in their shoes? You don’t need this, because a hairpin will always be appropriate and beautiful.
Use details in clothing that visually increase your height. Thin belts, ties, long beads, short hair will add 10-15 centimeters to you. In clothes, stylists recommend using vertical stripes and a V-neck.
Upright posture should become your calling card.
Taking all this into account, you will create the image you need, whether you want to be a stern businesswoman or a sweet romantic girl for those around you.
By the way, it is much easier for you to transform and become feminine, because on a subconscious level, it is short girls that men perceive as those who need to be protected.
Why growth?
The men's world before, and even now, has always been based on aggression. Attack, dominance, suppression in the world, physical, intellectual or social, imply large dimensions. When you see an ordinary cat in front of you, don’t worry, because even with claws and quick reaction, the most it will do is scratch.
It's another matter if there is a tiger in front of you. It's the same cat, but it's bigger, faster, and more agile than you, and the damage it will cause may be too serious.
In the physical world, size always matters. This is one of the signs of intimidation. And since men still instinctively compare themselves physically with potential competitors, being small is clearly not going to add points to them on the battlefield. If you are two meters tall, then girls pay attention to you and even with mediocre physical fitness you seem stronger than short men.
Low stature seems to signal that the opponent has nothing to fear. After all, if he is so low, then he doesn’t have much strength.
Today all this has little to do with reality. Height does not indicate social superiority, physical strength, or intelligence. But somewhere at the level of instincts, stereotypes persist and force us to look for other ways to assert ourselves.
Battle formations of the French troops
Infantry
It was built in columns, loose formation (a chain of riflemen) and deployed formation with a depth of two and three ranks. A square was used against cavalry. The infantry was lined up in battalions (battalion columns; battalions deployed in a line). The battalion was a tactical unit.
Cavalry
was built in deployed lines and columns. Scattered formation was used by light cavalry. It was located in battle formation separately in one or another section of the position.
Artillery
was located in advantageous positions in front, in the gaps of the first line of infantry and cavalry, and at particularly important points with the aim of shelling the enemy with concentrated fire. Sometimes there were batteries of 100 or more guns. The batteries were covered with parapets. The battery sites were artificially elevated above the terrain ahead in order to fire at the enemy in all directions.
Order of battle
divisions of the corps of Soult and Bernadotte before the Battle of Austerlitz (1805) was next. Each brigade of the division (a brigade consisted of two regiments, a division - of two brigades) was formed: in the first line, the battalions of the first regiment in a deployed formation (three-ranked formation) with riflemen in a loose formation in front; in the second line are the battalions of the second regiment, formed in columns. If the division also had a fifth regiment, then its battalions were built in columns and formed a reserve. A squadron or division of cavalry was located in 3a brigades. Artillery was placed in the intervals between the regiments of the first line and on their flanks.
With linear tactics
Long continuous lines of infantry were lined up on the battlefield with cavalry on the flanks. During shock tactics, corps and divisions in columns were secretly located behind villages or hills.
The troops forming the deployed rifle lines and loose formation formed the first echelon. They, together with the artillery, started a battle and fought it until the battalion columns entered the battle. If linear tactics were based on the simultaneous deployment and use of all or almost all of the infantry, then with shock tactics a relatively small part of the infantry began the battle - the main forces were in the second echelon. The battle was fueled from the depths by the introduction of fresh troops and strong reserves - guards and cavalry.
Column
was the main striking force. The battalions deployed in line, together with the voltigeurs, formed the first rifle line and fired volleys. If necessary, these battalions formed columns (or squares) or scattered and, together with the voltigeurs, operating in a scattered formation, fired aimed fire. Voltigeurs also, if necessary, had to be built in squares (against cavalry attacks) and in columns.
The cavalry provided the flanks and rear, and at the right moment rushed at the enemy.
Napoleon's desire to act in large columns became a kind of mania after the 1807 campaign. He was the first to introduce formations in columns of truly monstrous proportions, which were composed of entire divisions of infantry (under Wagram) or cavalry (under Eckmühl).
Artillery
Napoleon made a weapon of hitherto unheard of power. French artillery had great maneuverability on the battlefield. The artillery reserve was a powerful means of achieving victory.
How to recognize Napoleon
A short person does not necessarily suffer from a Napoleon complex. And a person with this complex will not necessarily be short in stature. Napoleon has several characteristic character traits that were formed under the pressure of shame for his shortcomings. Usually these signs are present all at once if we are talking about Napoleon, but some of them can be expressed more weakly or more strongly.
- Despotism . He goes to extremes, demands unquestioning obedience, and lacks flexibility in any matter.
- Unproven self-confidence . The pompous Napoleon praises himself for even the smallest reasons and expects this from others. He will not miss the opportunity to demonstrate his superiority even by infringing on the interests of others.
- A distorted view of reality . Napoleon always thinks that others are too prejudiced towards him. He will see a catch where there is none - harsh criticism in a simple and correct remark on the matter or betrayal in expressing the opposite point of view during a discussion.
- Aggressiveness . This manifests itself both in verbal injections and in the use of physical force, and the gradation depends only on the self-control and strength of the opponent.
- Envy . Napoleon can't stand it when someone else gets more. Only he should have this “more”: a richer house, a more luxurious vacation, a longer car, a better position.
If short stature is your sore point
Do you notice dissatisfaction with your growth? Do you look in the mirror and just want to call yourself short? Is it annoying to look up to others?
Photo by Rodolfo Clix: Pexels
It's time to pay attention to your condition. You may be a victim of Napoleon syndrome. There is no need to capture neighboring states or organize terror: here are some tips for restoring self-esteem:
- Appearance
It's time to turn to a stylist who will evaluate your strengths with a fresh look and help hide your shortcomings. Never worn heels? It's time to change everything. Liking yourself and learning how to choose an image is the most important skill for any girl.
- Sport
It's time to stop suffering and make yourself a candy. Yoga or fitness - the choice is yours, the main thing is the result in the form of a beautiful body. Petite, fit beauties leave no one indifferent.
- Psychologist
Perhaps height is not the only thing that worries you about yourself. You shouldn’t be silent and suffer alone. It is always better to declare your problem and solve it in the early stages, before anxiety and nerves lead to illness and weakness.
Photo by Hanna Postova on Unsplash
- Finding Strengths
It's time to learn a new hobby where your height will be an advantage. In pair dances, for example, light, short partners are much more successful than tall ladies. And in classical dance and ballet, short girls make the best pirouettes and master power figures faster.
Concerns about short stature are often just the tip of the iceberg, masking difficulties associated with self-esteem and feelings of unworthiness. Notice in time if something is bothering you, so that you can change your attitude towards life in time and avoid big difficulties in the future.
The main difference from other complexes
The Napoleon complex is one of the varieties of a global and general inferiority complex. But his main problem is that Napoleon never has enough.
Since childhood, we have been taught to compare ourselves with others, especially focusing on our negative sides. In such circumstances, anyone loses, and Napoleon even more so.
This is a special way of thinking: “I’m ashamed of my short height, but he has a cool car.” And it doesn’t matter that the other guy took out this car on credit at high interest rates, the only important thing is that he has it, and I’m short. This self-flagellation increases the degree of aggression and will only find a way out in buying a higher-class car, just to wipe your nose.
Napoleon is also destructive in relationships. To show others his success with women, he will change them like gloves, while remaining an incredibly jealous owner. If his third mistress only looked in the direction of another man without a second thought, this would cause the most painful experiences in Napoleon.
History and causes
This complex was discovered by Alfred Adler, the famous psychologist. He found out that all people experience it because in childhood they felt the superiority of adults and their inferiority compared to them. It is from these feelings that every healthy child strives to be like one of his parents, to do something better than him and, in general, has a desire to grow up and reach heights as quickly as possible.
This message perfectly motivates children to develop, especially if adults support their aspirations, not devaluing or competing, but giving space for self-expression. Then even small stature will not cause a feeling in adulthood that you have been underestimated. But Napoleon syndrome manifests itself when the environment is not entirely healthy, that is, for some reason the parents did not provide a safe environment for growing up. For example, being overly protective of him.
The child does not have the opportunity to express himself, to gain experience through trial and error; adults, “powerful figures” with power, do everything for him. Therefore, against their background, the child has no choice but to get an inferiority complex. He may try to rebel over time, breaking out of control, and trying to prove to the world that he exists and is capable of much on an equal basis with others. Or he will withdraw into himself, feeling helpless and depressed, subordinating to other, more knowledgeable and “bigger” people.
It also occurs due to hypoprotection, that is, lack of attention, love and care on the part of parents. And then the child takes responsibility for this “dislike”, believing that he simply does not deserve it, because he is not so “good”, “healthy”, “beautiful” and so on.
And although the name of this syndrome is masculine, it can also occur in women who are more masculine. That is, the qualities and traits inherent in the strong half of humanity. For example, when a woman occupies a leadership position, she simply needs to be restrained, show an iron will and be able to withstand competition and aggressiveness. And if she is small, pretty and fragile, then those around her may not take her seriously at first, which is why the syndrome will actively manifest itself.
Why you need to fight the complex
One can understand the man’s attempts to hide his shortcomings behind social success. As mentioned above, no one will care about your appearance if you are successful in sports, business or anything else. But in trying to disguise his shortcomings, a person gets away from the essence - he is so ashamed of his shortcomings that he becomes bitter against the whole world, even if the opponent does not pose a threat.
Napoleon was so carried away by victories that he lost touch with reality, starved his army and led the country into decline. The veil of vanity covered his eyes so tightly that he did not notice his own fall into the abyss. But it’s one thing to destroy yourself, it’s another thing to destroy everything around you.
Men with a Napoleon complex are despotic, overly aggressive and extremely vindictive. The worst thing is that they take it out mainly on the weaker - on subordinates, on women and even children - on all those who cannot resist them.
For some time, aggression towards a weaker opponent relieves Napoleon of the pangs of his own insolvency, but this will not last long. Next time he will need more power, more proof of his own superiority, which means he will become more cruel and despotic.
A healthy way out of the Napoleon complex is to realize your own shame for your shortcomings. Usually, in early childhood, Napoleon receives a deep trauma of humiliation. Having healed over the years, the injury constantly reminds him that his shortcomings need to be masked. If you don't do this, you may be offended. This forces Napoleon to always remain on guard, remain aggressive and act proactively before the enemy has time to deliver a humiliating blow. True, it mainly goes only to the weaker, but this is enough to dull the painful compulsion.
Ideally, a man should do everything to accept his shortcomings as they are. This requires a certain wisdom, patience and courage, but ultimately spiritual growth allows you to come to inner peace.
Everyone has flaws. Some have more, some have less. French actor Louis de Funes is only 164 cm tall, but this did not stop him from becoming a world-recognized cinema star, but supposedly only beautiful, tall and slender people are allowed into show business. But even fingers are not enough to count how many actors with obviously mediocre appearance and short stature have achieved incredible success.
Napoleon complex in women
The fair sex by nature is prone to worry about their appearance , this will not depend on any special factors (at any weight, height, age, a woman will be able to find flaws in herself that will greatly upset her).
If we look in more detail, then all the dissatisfaction of women with short stature is based on two factors:
- Lack of long legs. This is true. But most men value not the length of their legs, but their shape. With regular physical activity and proper nutrition, you can achieve perfect legs. In addition, all women with short stature have small feet, which is considered very sexy;
- Inability to become a model in the future. It should be noted that even tall people are not always ready to lead the life of a star. Everything will individually depend on the personal qualities of each individual person. Eva Longoria, with a height of 157 centimeters, was able to overcome this stereotype and became a popular model.
Famous petite women: Queen Victoria (152 centimeters), Kylie Minogue (155 centimeters), Edith Piaf (147 centimeters), Salma Hayek (157 centimeters), Hilary Duff (155 centimeters), Alla Pugacheva (162 centimeters).
But for an intelligent woman who carefully looks after herself and understands how to correctly present all her main advantages, this fact will definitely not become a serious drawback. A woman will not even focus her attention on such trifles .
Historical reference
It is no coincidence that this complex bears the name of the great French emperor - from history we know that Napoleon Bonaparte was short (only 162 centimeters), but this did not stop him from conquering all of Europe.
The Austrian scientist Alfred Adler, who was engaged in research on the topic of high levels of aggressiveness in short people, first became interested in these facts. This theory has both followers and opponents, but the term remains in active use today.
