Savior complex
{{Short description|Belief that one is responsible for assisting others}}
{{About|the state of mind|the television series|Savior Complex (TV series)}}
In psychology, a savior complex is an attitude and demeanor in which a person believes they are responsible for assisting other people.{{cite web |title=What Is a Savior Complex? |url=https://mhcsandiego.com/savior-complex/ |website=Mental Health Center of San Diego |date=21 September 2021 |access-date=15 September 2023}} A person with a savior complex will often experience empathic episodes and commit to impulsive decisions such as volunteering, donating, or advocating for a cause.{{cite web |title=The saviour complex |url=https://health.clevelandclinic.org/savior-complex. |website=Cleaveland Clinic | date=24 September 2024 |access-date=24 September 2024}} A person with the complex will usually make an attempt to assist or continue to assist even if they are not helpful or are detrimental to the situation, others, or themselves.{{cite web |last1=Staughton |first1=John |title=What Is A Savior Complex? |url=https://www.scienceabc.com/social-science/what-is-a-savior-complex.html |website=Science ABC |date=7 June 2019 |access-date=15 September 2023}} It is often associated with other disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and is commonly used interchangeably with the similar term 'Messiah complex'.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Kristen |title=What Is a Messiah (or Savior) Complex? |url=https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/savior-messiah-complex |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=WebMD |language=en}} Like Messiah complex, savior complex is not mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and is not recognized as a clinical term or diagnosable condition.
Examples
Savior complex is often seen in those who struggle with self-worth and exclusively feel good when helping other people. Some traits of this concept are:{{cite web | url=https://mhcsandiego.com/blog/savior-complex/ | title=Savior Complex Meaning - Understanding and Insights | date=21 September 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://health.clevelandclinic.org/savior-complex | title=Save Yourself from the Savior Complex }}
- Attraction to vulnerability and codependency: Seeking relationships with those who appear to need some form of assistance or "fixing".
- A desire to change people: Wanting to change the actions and beliefs of others thinking that it would be beneficial for them, whether it truly is or not.
- Making excessive sacrifices: Often putting others in front of one's own needs, and being left drained. This ultimately leads to the "savior" being far less motivated and helpful than they want to appear.