High Exposure Syndrome: Being Hated For Standing Out
One of the great contradictions of the human being relates to the difficulty of honestly appreciating the virtues of others, without being affected by them. It’s not exactly envy. This is related with what we call high exposure syndrome or large poppy syndrome.
High exposure syndrome is when individuals generate hatred in other people when they stand out too much in certain areas. This hatred is not envy as such. It is more related to the fact that the success of others makes our own limitations more visible.
The high exposure syndrome is also called “large poppy syndrome”. Its name results from the fact that the prevailing logic is to cut flowers that grow more than others, so that others do not suffer from the comparison.
The original legend
The theme of the high exposure syndrome finds its first references in the books of Herodotus and in the reflections of Aristotle. He also appears in a story by Livius about the tyrant “Tarquin the Superb”.
According to Herodotus, the emperor sent a messenger to seek advice from Thrasybulus on how best to keep control of the empire. The messenger asked but Thrasybulus contented himself with walking among the middle of a wheat field. Whenever he encountered an ear that was larger than the others, he cut it off and threw it to the ground. And he didn’t say a single word.
When the messenger returned to see the emperor, he told him about the counselor’s strange attitude. The emperor understood. The message meant that he had to eliminate all those who were above the others. Do away with the best so that his power and supremacy are never questioned.
The high exposure syndrome in today’s world
It is clear that tyrannies do not allow the emergence of superior personalities. It is very common in politics to seek to discredit those who challenge the status quo or the establishment. The high exposure syndrome is not limited to government affairs, however.
We see on a daily basis that we are invited to stand out from others, but that very specific limits are imposed on us at the same time. The idea is that we adhere to certain set parameters that define success. For example, “employee of the month” is not necessarily the one who has made the most progress or who has brought in relevant elements. Rather, it is the one who has fulfilled the objectives set.
There is no problem in this case. The plant having grown more will not be cut at the root because it will have adhered to what the gardener wants. On the other hand, if someone becomes very important for reasons other than those considered valid, they are likely to release suspicion and possibly be excluded.
High exposure syndrome works both ways
The high exposure syndrome generates consequences on two dimensions. The first relates to what we talked about earlier. There is an almost natural tendency not to allow someone to stand out too much. This indeed generates insecurities. Or it creates a sense of threat in others. Those who stand out are therefore very often criticized with excessive severity. They are also subject to too many requirements. They also see their talent or achievements being minimized.
The second consequence of high exposure syndrome is that it tends to teach people to be afraid of standing out. So we implicitly learn that standing out can be dangerous. In what ? It can generate rejection, questioning, criticism and even ostracism.
Many people therefore consider it appropriate to never stand out. Keeping a “low profile” is becoming the norm. People find themselves terrified when they have to expose themselves. They end up being formatted so as not to challenge what is established. This is a shame because skills are lost in this process. Real talents are put aside, many successes are abandoned.
Our thoughts Envy nibbles at any person and destroys all fertile ground. It kills what is alive and runs like a tsunami.
