Periander, ruler of Corinth, sent a messenger to Thrasybulus, ruler of Miletus, to ask him how he could better govern his city. Thrasybulus led the messenger out of town to a seeded field. While walking through the wheat, he wondered why that messenger had come to him. While that question was around his mind, he was cutting the highest wheat ears he found on his way, until he ended up destroying the best part of the crop.
In the end, he decided not to say a word and sent the messenger back. When the herald returned to Corinth, Periander wanted to hear what advice he brought, but the man told him that Thrasybulus had given him none. The messenger added that he was a strange man, a madman and a destroyer of his own possessions. He told Periander what he had seen.
However, Periander thought he got an implicit advice in those actions of Thrasybulus: he had to kill the subjects who had an outstanding influence or ability. And so he became the tyrant who remembers the history.
This story, told by Herodotus and collected by Aristotle, inspired what in many Anglo-Saxon countries is known as “Tall Poppy Syndrome.”
What is the Tall Poppy Syndrome?
The Tall Poppy Syndrome affects people who stand out from the average, either because of their high skills, their excellent qualities or because they have achieved great success. Related to the Procruste’s Syndrome, it is known as the Tall Poppy Syndrome because all plants are expected to grow at the same speed and height, so those that grow too fast must be reduced.
In the same way, in groups or societies that promote egalitarian principles, standing above the average is considered antisocial since it goes against the dominant culture. As a result, these people arouse in the others feelings of hostility that give way to harmful attitudes and behaviors to try to tear them down.
Therefore, the Tall Poppy Syndrome implies the desire to “crush” the winners or exceptional people to adapt them to the average.
Why do exceptional people bother us?
According to Max Weber, a German sociologist, in certain social groups gaining prestige and power is a zero-sum game, so there is a more marked tendency to want to knock down “tall poppies.”
In practice, in these groups there is only a limited amount of prestige that must be shared among its members, as well as a specific amount of attention, authority and resources. According to his theory, for someone to climb, another must fall, since only then can be maintained the balance.
In fact, a study conducted with more than 2,000 students revealed that they felt more satisfied when a good student got bad grades and dropped in the overall ranking than when an average student failed exams, probably because the latter were not considered “competitors”.
Tall Poppy Syndrome can occur in any context. Although it is more common in workplaces and schools, it can also happen within families. Throughout history, many pioneers in different fields of science have been labeled “tall poppies,” and the scientific community has often tried to denigrate their discoveries or theories.
In the 1840s, for example, Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician working at Vienna General Hospital, observed a crucial difference: the mortality rate was much higher in the ward staffed by doctors and medical students than in the one staffed by midwives. After an investigation, he deduced the cause: the doctors and students were performing autopsies and then, without washing their hands, attending births and examining the women in labor, thus transferring invisible “cadaveric matter.” He instituted a mandatory handwashing protocol using a calcium chloride solution.
However, the established medical community, offended by the accusation that they were the vectors of the disease and clinging to outdated theories, ridiculed his idea, harassed him professionally, and drove him to ruin, leaving him to die ignored in an asylum, only to be vindicated years later when Pasteur proved the germ theory.
However, beyond the social dynamic that tends to crush those who stand out too much, the truth is that the Tall Poppy Syndrome is not simply a social phenomenon, but has deep psychological roots.
Some people find it difficult to genuinely appreciate the achievements or qualities of others without a trace of envy. As the writer Elbert Hubbard said, “There is something far rarer, more exquisite, and more precious than talent: the talent to recognize talent.”
The problem is that high achievers can be perceived as a threat to the ego of those who don’t feel up to par. Therefore, to prevent their self-esteem from being damaged, these individuals try to bring others down by employing various tactics:
- Disparaging success with phrases like “It was just good luck”.
- To belittle the skills and hard work of others.
- Pointing out minor errors or irrelevant mistakes instead of congratulating him on major achievements.
- Refusing to cooperate, so that the person does not succeed.
- To trip him up.
- Criticizing him at every step he takes to diminish his worth.
- Highlighting the areas where he is not so good, in an attempt to diminish his achievements or abilities.
The consequences of Tall Poppy Syndrome
Two studies conducted at the Universities of Canterbury and Waikato found that a culture characterized by Tall Poppy Syndrome can lead to a decrease in average performance of up to 20%.
These psychologists also confirmed that people who suffer “pruning behaviors” from others may begin to exhibit:
- Fear of standing out, as they learn it’s frowned upon. Anxiety arises in the face of success, as they understand that standing out attracts criticism, envy, and rejection. This negative association can lead to unconscious self-sabotage, where they avoid opportunities or downplay their talent to remain unnoticed and avoid social punishment.
- Personal insecurity arises because they cannot express themselves authentically. Recurring criticism of their abilities or achievements ultimately leads to self-doubt. People may begin to think that “there is something wrong” with who they are, causing them to constantly question their decisions and create a more “acceptable” facade to hide their true selves, thus fracturing their sense of self.
- Ostracism, since they generally withdraw into themselves out of fear of rejection and criticism. Faced with constant rejection, these individuals retreat as a defense mechanism. This self-imposed isolation is not due to a lack of sociability, but rather a strategy to protect themselves from the pain of destructive criticism and misunderstanding, which ultimately deprives them of the social support so necessary for their well-being.
- Low self-esteem and a reluctance to share their achievements with others. The constant invalidation of their triumphs erodes self-esteem, leading these individuals to attribute their successes to luck or chance (or even suffer from what is known as imposter syndrome). As a result, they are likely to hide their accomplishments, anticipating that they will be minimized or used against them, preventing them from enjoying recognition and reinforcing a positive self-image.
As a result, the mental balance of these people ends up giving way, so they are more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety.
What to do? The necessary change of mindset
Benjamin Franklin Fairless, the president of United States Steel Corporation, gave us the best advice: “You cannot strengthen one by weakening another; and you cannot increase the height of a dwarf by cutting off the leg of a giant.”
In fact, at a social and business level, the Tall Poppy Syndrome acts as a huge barrier to development. Research conducted in New Zealand, for example, found that attacking those who excel reduces the likelihood of starting businesses, implementing good ideas, and diminishes the willingness to take risks and innovate.
To overcome the Tall Poppy Syndrome, we must understand that comparisons are unnecessary and counterproductive. We are all different and shine in our own unique ways. We also need to understand that we all have limitations and that it’s not necessary to reach the same heights as others. Each person must find their own path to happiness, not necessarily to success.
We should feel grateful for diversity, instead of seeing it as a threat. Only when we make this shift in mindset, both personally and socially, can we allow each poppy to grow at its own pace and reach its full potential.
References:
Dediu, A. (2015) Tall Poppy Syndrome and its effect on work performance. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Applied Psychology. Nueva Zelanda: Universidad de Canterbury.
Spacey, S. (2015) Crab Mentality, Cyberbullying and “Name and Shame”. Semantic Scholar.
Martínez, O. (2014) La ofensiva de Ignaz Semmelweis contra los miasmas ineluctables y el nihilismo terapéutico. Acta Médica Colombiana; 39(1).
Kirkwood, J. (2007) Tall poppy syndrome: Implications for entrepreneurship in New Zealand. Journal of Management & Organization; 13(4): 366–382.
Feather, N. T. (1989) Attitudes towards the high achiever: The fall of the tall poppy. Australian Journal of Psychology; 41(3): 239-267.
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