![the little man the little man](http://upload.mediatly.com/card_pictures/c8/d7/e2/c8d7e25e-5eef-42fe-bfef-03e3dfe539e3.jpg)
In the case of short man syndrome it may be that in the wild smaller individuals needed to make more noise and act more aggressively in order to compete for food and mates. Short man complex has also been linked to evolutionary psychology – which looks at our psychology as a race and how it could have developed through evolution due to the survival value of particular behavioral traits. At the same time the lack of confidence regarding their height might cause them to try and distract from it by proving themselves able to ‘mix with the big boys’. This is one of the ego defense mechanisms as described by Freud, the idea being that the individual could this way protect themselves from the belief that they were smaller in size. Of course the primary cause of short man syndrome is the aforementioned overcompensation.
![the little man the little man](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4uLTQlkgPNc/hqdefault.jpg)
It is believed that the confusion stems from miscalculations caused by the difference in English and French measuring units, and from the fact that Napoleon was often portrayed alongside his guards – who were all taller than average. While Napoleon is widely believed to have been very short, in fact historians have calculated his height to be around 5’6′ which was average for the time period. Note: Interestingly however the term ‘Napoleon complex’ may well be a misnomer. The term ‘Napoleon complex’ is used in reference to Napoleon Bonaparte who many believed conducted his tyrany and invasions as a form of overcompensation for his short stature. Other personality traits have also been linked to Napoleon syndrome – for instance risk taking behavior and jealousy. Many people compare the typical short man complex to that of a smaller dog – which many note are often noisier and more aggressive than larger more docile dogs. Thus the stereotype is that the smaller male with short man syndrome would be aggressive, likely to shout and talk loudly and seek attention and eager to prove themselves. The term is often used as a derogatory term also to describe those who are perceived as acting this way. Technically it is a form of inferiority complex in which the person attempts to overcompensate for their perceived shortcoming. Short man syndrome is an informal term and not a medical or psychological condition and goes by other names such as ‘Napoleon complex’. This is particularly common in men who gain a lot of confidence and status from physicality and who often gain pleasure from being able to feel physically imposing. ‘Short man syndrome’ is a condition in which a person has to deal with a feeling of inadequacy which can come from a lack of height – or a perceived lack of height.