One of the great contradictions of the human being has to do with the difficulty of honestly appreciating the virtues of others, without worrying about them. That’s not exactly envy. This is what we call high exposure syndrome or high poppy syndrome.
High exposure syndrome tells us that when people excel in one area, they cause hatred in others, that hatred cannot be called envy in itself, above all, it is linked to the fact that the success of others makes our own limits more visible.
- “There is something much weirder.
- Thinner and rarer than talent.
- Is it the talent to recognize talented people?.
- ? Elbert Hubbard.
This is why high exposure syndrome is also called ‘high poppy syndrome’. The reason comes from the dominant logic of cutting flowers that grow more than others, so that others do not lose in a comparison.
It is said that the subject of high exposure syndrome has its first references in the books of Heredotus and in the reflections of Aristotle. He also appears in Levio’s report on the tyrant “Tarquio, the Proud”.
According to Herodotus, the emperor sent a messenger to ask Trasibulo for advice on how best to maintain control of his empire, the messenger asked him, but Trasibulo only began to walk among the wheat fields, whenever he found a higher ear, he did. Cut it and throw it on the ground. And I didn’t say a word.
When the messenger returned to the emperor, he told him of the counselor’s strange attitude, and the emperor understood. The message meant that he had to eliminate all those above others, stop the best, so that their power and supremacy would never be defeated.
Tyrannies, those who detain power, do not allow the emergence of personalities who may be superior, in the political sphere it is very common to seek to delegitimate those who defy the status quo, that is, the established. The syndrome is not limited to government matters.
Every day, we see how we are invited to stand out from the crowd, while setting very specific limits, the idea is that you follow certain parameters of what it means to succeed, for example, the?Employee of the month?
If this happens, no problem, the root of the plant that grew more than the others will not be cut, because it has adapted to what the gardener wanted; on the other hand, if someone excels too much for reasons other than those deemed valid, suspicion is likely to arise and eventually someone will be excluded.
High exposure syndrome has two-dimensional consequences: the first is the candidate. There is an almost natural tendency not to let someone stand out too much, because it creates insecurities or creates a sense of threat in others, so those who stand out are often criticized with excessive severity or in high demand. . Or they seek to minimize their talents and achievements.
The second consequence of high exposure syndrome is that it teaches people to be afraid to excel. Precisely because of everything that has been said, people learn, more implicitly than explicitly, that being above others can put them at risk. Risk of what? Rejection, questioning, criticism and even ostracism.
Therefore, many assume that the right thing to do is not to stand out under any circumstances. Are you taking responsibility for it? As standard and are afraid to expose themselves to others. One way or another, they end up training so as not to challenge the established. It’s a shame, because in this process, they also lose skills, leave out real talents and even give up success.