Explains why many people have difficulty handling success, discusses social isolation, alcoholism, depression, stress, and drug use, and tells how to enjoy and adjust to success

The Success Syndrome: Hitting Bottom When You Reach The Top

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Berglas, Steven

Mental Health

Springer

The concept of self-handicapping can be legitimately anchored in a vari ety of intellectual contexts, some old and some newer. As this volume reminds us, Alfred Adler was perhaps the first to articulate the signifi cance of various self-defeating claims and gestures for protecting the self concept. Thus the apparent paradox of "defeat" in the interests of "pro tection. " More recently (but still more than 30 years ago), Heider's "naive psychology" added attributional rhetoric to the description of self-defeat ing strategies. While predominantly cognitive in its thrust, the attribu tional approach incorporated several motivational influences-especially those involving egocentric concerns. Heider hardly violated our common sense when he suggested that people are inclined to attribute their performances in a self-serving manner: the good things I caused; the bad things were forced upon me. The notion of self-handicapping strategies, proposed by Berglas and myself a little more than a decade ago, capitalized on these homely truths while adding a particular proactive twist. We not only make ex cuses for our blunders; we plan our engagements and our situational choices so that self-protective excuses are unnecessary. In doing so, we use our attributional understanding to arrange things so that flawed and failing performances will not be interpreted in ways that threaten our self-esteem.

Self-Handicapping: The Paradox That Isn’t (The Springer Series in Social Clinical Psychology)

Higgins, Raymond L.

Snyder, C.R.

Describes the underlying causes of self-defeating behavior and provides strategies for overcoming them

Your Own Worst Enemy: Understanding The Paradox Of Self-defeating Behavior

Psychology & Counseling

Basic Books

A probing look at what lies beneath our surprising inclination to seize defeat from the jaws of victory. From Ivan Boesky to Gary Hart, the world is full of people who have had it all and have blown it. Now two psychologists reveal what forces fuel self-destructive urges, how people become vulnerable to them and how to minimize their ill-effects.

Your Own Worst Enemy

Baumeister, Roy F.

Basic Books Inc.,U.S.

Reclaiming the Fire: How Successful People Overcome Burnout

The definitive work on avoiding burnout, written by the psychologist who is the leading specialist on the issue. An illuminating and useful book for anyone coping with the pressures of work. In Reclaiming the Fire, Dr. Steven Berglas analyzes the rises and falls of corporate executives, middle managers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and others as they struggle to handle the trappings of successful careers. How does one deal with encore anxiety, the monotony of having to use talents that are no longer psychologically rewarding? Why is it that our national obsession with wealth traps people in careers that often lead them to wonder, "Is that all there is?" And why do highly successful people often set themselves up for disastrous falls? Dr. Berglas answers all these questions and many more in this groundbreaking book by discussing real people whose careers have left them feeling pressured, burdened, and jaded. In his most progressive and striking contribution to the literature on career success, Dr. Berglas debunks the persistent myth that women suffer more stress and burnout than men. He disproves the common claim that women involved both in careers and in family life suffer from trying to have it all, and he demonstrates how the drive to form close interpersonal ties a drive that is intrinsic to women can actually prevent both men and women from experiencing burnout. In a related analysis of the mentoring process, Dr. Berglas shows why it is more important for careerists to build legacies for future generations (a process he terms generativity) than to become obsessed with their own personal success. He proves that the process not only benefits the student but provides the mentor with psychological satisfaction and even improved physical health. Reclaiming the Fire uses the working world not the psychiatric couch as a venue for understanding the psychological and emotional burdens of success. It is the first comprehensive account of how to balance self-esteem and ambition while maintaining challenge and stimulation throughout your career. Reclaiming the Fire provides insight into: *Why baby boomers are currently suffering an epidemic of career dissatisfaction *Why women are uniquely suited to cope with the pressures that cause men to suffer burnout, and what men can learn from them *How to escape golden handcuffs: the workaholic devotion to a job that is no longer emotionally satisfying *How to cope with anger that threatens to sabotage your career *How all professionals can identify the passions that will allow them to sustain and enjoy success throughout their lives

Business & Money

Business Culture

Random House]

According to Dr. Steven Berglas, success is the ultimate self-fulfillment and should be a gratifying and enriching experience. But for many success is a two-edged sword, a burden as well as a blessing. He explains why the highly successful may 'self-handicap' themselves rather than face the rising expectations imposed on them from within and without.

The Success Syndrome: Hitting Bottom When You Reach the Top

Diane Pub Co.

Parenting & Relationships

Random House Publishing Group

The concept of self-handicapping can be legitimately anchored in a vari ety of intellectual contexts, some old and some newer. As this volume reminds us, Alfred Adler was perhaps the first to articulate the signifi cance of various self-defeating claims and gestures for protecting the self concept. Thus the apparent paradox of "defeat" in the interests of "pro tection. " More recently (but still more than 30 years ago), Heider's "naive psychology" added attributional rhetoric to the description of self-defeat ing strategies. While predominantly cognitive in its thrust, the attribu tional approach incorporated several motivational influences-especially those involving egocentric concerns. Heider hardly violated our common sense when he suggested that people are inclined to attribute their performances in a self-serving manner: the good things I caused; the bad things were forced upon me. The notion of self-handicapping strategies, proposed by Berglas and myself a little more than a decade ago, capitalized on these homely truths while adding a particular proactive twist. We not only make ex cuses for our blunders; we plan our engagements and our situational choices so that self-protective excuses are unnecessary. In doing so, we use our attributional understanding to arrange things so that flawed and failing performances will not be interpreted in ways that threaten our self-esteem.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Berglas, Steven. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Berglas, Steven

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Berglas, Steven. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Success Syndrome: Hitting Bottom When You Reach The Top

Self-Handicapping: The Paradox That Isn’t (The Springer Series in Social Clinical Psychology)

Your Own Worst Enemy: Understanding The Paradox Of Self-defeating Behavior

Your Own Worst Enemy

Reclaiming the Fire: How Successful People Overcome Burnout

The Success Syndrome: Hitting Bottom When You Reach the Top

Reclaiming the Fire: How Successful People Overcome Burnout

Self-Handicapping: The Paradox That Isn’t (The Springer Series in Social Clinical Psychology)

Reclaiming the Fire: How Successful People Overcome Burnout