Savior complex

In psychology, a savior complex is an attitude and demeanor in which a person believes they are responsible for assisting other people.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

It is often associated with other disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and is commonly used interchangeably with the similar term 'Messiah complex'.^[4] 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.

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:^[5][6]

• 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.

• Hero syndrome
• Messiah complex
• Superman complex
• White knight
• White savior complex

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