Insecurity is a feeling of general unease or nervousness that may be triggered by
perceiving oneself to be unloved, inadequate or worthless (whether in a rational or an irrational manner).
A person who is insecure lacks confidence in their own value and capability, lacks trust in themselves or others, or has fears that a present positive state is temporary and will let them down and cause them loss or distress by "going wrong" in the future.
This is not to be confused with
humility, which involves recognising one's failings but still maintaining a healthy dose of self-confidence. Insecurity is not an objective evaluation of one's ability but an emotional interpretation, as two people with the same capabilities may have entirely different levels of insecurity.
Insecurity may cause
shyness,
paranoia and
social withdrawal, or alternatively it may encourage compensatory behaviors such as
arrogance,
aggression, or
bullying, a principle enshrined in the phrase "all bullies are cowards." Many people suffer a period of insecurity during
puberty, which gives rise to a lot of the stereotypical behaviors of
adolescents.
Insecurity has many effects in a person's life. There are several levels of it. It nearly always causes some degree of
isolation as a typically insecure person withdraws from people to some extent. The greater the insecurity, the higher the degree of isolation. Insecurity is often rooted in a person's childhood years. Like offense and bitterness, it grows in layered fashion, often becoming an immobilising force that sets a limiting factor in the person's life.
Insecurity robs by degrees; the degree to which it is entrenched equals the degree of power it has in the person's life. As insecurity can be distressing and feel threatening to the
psyche, it can often be accompanied by a
controlling personality type or
avoidance, as psychological
defence mechanisms.