Tall Poppy Syndrome: when they try to crush you to make you stand out

Periandro, ruler of Corinth, sent a messenger to Trasibulo, ruler of Miletus, to ask him how he could better govern his city. Trasibulo led the messenger out of town into a sown field. As he walked in the wheat, he wondered why that messenger had come to him. Mulling the question, he was cutting the tallest ears of corn he could find in his path, so he ended up destroying the best part of the crop.

Eventually, he decided not to say anything and sent the messenger back. When the herald returned to Corinth, Periandro wanted to hear what advice he had brought with him, but the man told him that Trasibulo had said nothing to him. The messenger added that he was a strange man, a madman and a destroyer of his own goods. He told Periandro what he had seen.

However, Periandro thought he had caught a piece of advice implicit in Trasibulo's behavior: he must kill all subjects who had influence over others or exceptional abilities. So it was that he became the tyrant who remembers history.

This tale of Herodotus taken up by Aristotle inspired what in many Anglo-Saxon countries is known as the "tall poppy syndrome".

What is tall poppy syndrome?

The Tall Poppy Syndrome ( Tall Poppy Syndrome ) affects people who stand out from the media, both for their high capacity, excellent quality or because they have reached a huge success. Related to Procrustean syndrome , it is called tall poppy syndrome because all plants should grow at the same speed and height, so those that grow too fast are reduced in height.

Likewise, in groups or societies that promote egalitarian principles, emerging above the average is considered antisocial because it goes against the dominant culture. Consequently, these people arouse feelings of hostility in others that give way to aggressive attitudes and behaviors with the purpose of eliminating them.

Therefore, tall poppy syndrome implies a desire to "crush" the winners or outstanding people to fit the average.

Why do exceptional people bother?

According to Max Weber, a German sociologist, in some social groups obtaining prestige and power is a zero-sum game, so there is a more marked tendency to want to take down "tall poppies".

In practice, in these groups there is only a limited amount of prestige that needs to be shared among the members, as well as a specific amount of attention, authority and resources. According to his theory, for someone to emerge, another must fall, because only then can the balance be maintained.

Therefore, a prestigious, talented or successful person is seen as an obstacle to others. As a result, the group is likely to do everything in its power to reduce that person's power or success.

Tall poppy syndrome can occur in any setting, and although it is more common in work environments and schools, it can also occur within the family. Throughout history, many pioneers in different fields of science have been considered "tall poppies" and the scientific community has struggled to denigrate their findings or theories.

Beyond the social dynamics that tend to overwhelm people who excel too much, the truth is that tall poppy syndrome is not reduced to a social phenomenon, but has deep psychological roots.

Some people find it difficult to sincerely and without envy appreciate the accomplishments or qualities of others. As Elbert Hubbard wrote, "There is something much more scarce, more exquisite and rare than talent: the talent to recognize talent."

The problem is that people who stand out can be perceived as a danger to the ego of those who don't feel up to par. So, to prevent self-esteem from suffering, these people try to crush each other in several ways:

• Ignoring success with phrases like "it's just luck".

• Disdaining the skills and hard work of others.

• Reporting minor mistakes or irrelevant failures instead of congratulating him on important results.

• Refusing to cooperate, to make that person unsuccessful.

• Putting a spanner in the works.

• Criticizing every step he takes to diminish the value of the person.

• Pointing out the fields in which he is not so good, to try to scale his achievements or abilities.

The consequences of tall poppy syndrome

Two surveys conducted at the universities of Waikato and Canterbury found that a culture characterized by tall poppy syndrome can cause an average yield reduction of 20%.

These psychologists have also confirmed that people who suffer from these behaviors may start presenting:

• Fear of standing out, as they learn that it is not well regarded.

• Personal insecurity, as they cannot express themselves as they really are.

• Ostracism, as they generally withdraw into themselves for fear of rejection and criticism.

• Low self-esteem and reluctance to share their results with others.

As a result, these people's mental balance ends up failing, so they are more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety.

What to do? A change of mentality is needed

Benjamin Franklin Fairless, the president of the United States Steel Corporation gave us the best advice: “You can't strengthen one by weakening another; and you cannot increase the height of a dwarf by cutting off the legs of a giant ”.

To put an end to the tall poppy syndrome we must understand that comparisons are unnecessary and counterproductive. We are all different and shine with our own light. We also need to understand that we all have limits and it is not necessary to get where others go. Everyone must seek his own path to happiness, not to success.

We need to be grateful for diversity, instead of seeing it as a danger. Only by changing mentality, on a personal and social level, can we let each poppy grow at its own pace and get where it wants to go.

Sources:

Dediu, A. (2015) Tall Poppy Syndrome and its effect on work performance A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Applied Psychology. New Zealand: University of Canterbury.

Spacey, S. (2015) Crab Mentality, Cyberbullying and “Name and Shame”. Semantic Scholar.