The Self-Defeat Phenomenon.
I've seen it today more than ever before. Here's how it works, and how it might be holding you back:
I've seen it today more than ever before. Here's how it works, and how it might be holding you back:
The phenomenon was first described by researchers Stephen Berglas and Edward Jones in a 1978.
They called it self handicapping and their study was fascinating...
They called it self handicapping and their study was fascinating...
They gave students unsolvable and solvable puzzles.
Then after said they'd done well.
Those with the unsolvable puzzle were confused, they failed? They were nervous, uncomfortable.
Then after said they'd done well.
Those with the unsolvable puzzle were confused, they failed? They were nervous, uncomfortable.
Next the students were asked if they wanted to take a performance-enhancing or inhibiting drug before taking another test.
70% who had the unsolvable anagrams asked for performance-inhibiting drug, while just 13 percent of those with the solvable puzzle.
70% who had the unsolvable anagrams asked for performance-inhibiting drug, while just 13 percent of those with the solvable puzzle.
Why?
Then if they failed again they could blame something else. Protecting the ego at all costs.
Then if they failed again they could blame something else. Protecting the ego at all costs.
This trend has reared its ugly head again and again in my interactions.
In the comments of posts, in the retweets, in the replies to emails. I call it the self-defeat phenomenon.
Phenomenon: People who want success stop themselves from getting it.
In the comments of posts, in the retweets, in the replies to emails. I call it the self-defeat phenomenon.
Phenomenon: People who want success stop themselves from getting it.
Here is a truth I’ve come to see: Most do not believe they can do big things.
Hard to believe that the things others have accomplished are available to most.
And when you tell them they really can, you create a discord like a bad note on a guitar string.
Hard to believe that the things others have accomplished are available to most.
And when you tell them they really can, you create a discord like a bad note on a guitar string.
The note creates a terrible sound, a ringing screech, compared with all the notes they’ve heard in their life
And b/c no one wants to rewrite the song of their life to go to a higher level, you sound to them like a liar or a deceiver, instead of a believer in their abilities
And b/c no one wants to rewrite the song of their life to go to a higher level, you sound to them like a liar or a deceiver, instead of a believer in their abilities
We had a video go pretty viral w/ 15.6 million views on Tik Tok. It was about vending machines. While the comments were mostly positive, the resounding ones were:
"NOOOOOOO, this is fake. It can’t be true. I’ve done it and it didn’t work that way!"
"NOOOOOOO, this is fake. It can’t be true. I’ve done it and it didn’t work that way!"
The tough part, I’d seen the guy’s financials.
He’d let me peruse what he was building. Unless he cooked the books (unlikely) he was telling the truth.
But the discordant sound was ringing in people’s ears.
Why?
He’d let me peruse what he was building. Unless he cooked the books (unlikely) he was telling the truth.
But the discordant sound was ringing in people’s ears.
Why?
Because if they failed, it wasn’t because they messed up...
It was because it was impossible.
This is called cognitive bias:
"I believe this and thus I will only listen to things that confirm my beliefs."
It’s the foundation of much that is wrong in our world today.
It was because it was impossible.
This is called cognitive bias:
"I believe this and thus I will only listen to things that confirm my beliefs."
It’s the foundation of much that is wrong in our world today.
So I want to leave you with something here:
Can you try one for change for me this week? One simple tweak.
Can you try one for change for me this week? One simple tweak.
Instead of seeing something and saying “THIS WON’T WORK, OR NOT FOR ME!” ask instead, “How could this work for me?”
You might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of, and what the world can offer you.
You might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of, and what the world can offer you.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
