3417: The Problem With (How We Treat) Highly Disciplined People by Dr. Samantha Joel of Luvze
Dec 8, 2024
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Dr. Samantha Joel, an expert on self-control and author at Luvze, discusses the hidden challenges faced by highly disciplined individuals. She reveals how high expectations can lead to overwork and relationship strain. Despite their accomplishments, these individuals often feel unappreciated. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of balancing expectations with empathy, highlighting that both self-controlled individuals and their loved ones should adjust their perceptions to foster healthier relationships and reduce stress.
Highly disciplined individuals face increased expectations from others, leading to feelings of overwhelm and potential relationship strain due to their perceived capabilities.
Misunderstandings about the efforts of highly disciplined people can undermine their relationships, emphasizing the need for empathy and recognition of their struggles.
Deep dives
The Value of Self-Control
Self-control is recognized as a crucial skill that enables individuals to achieve their goals across various aspects of life. Those with high self-control tend to excel academically, engage in healthier behaviors, and maintain superior psychological well-being. Furthermore, in romantic relationships, couples with high levels of self-control often exhibit better communication, trust, and satisfaction. High self-control individuals can effectively manage daily responsibilities and commitments, enhancing their overall quality of life.
Expectations and Responsibilities of High Self-Control Individuals
People with high self-control are often subject to elevated expectations from others, leading to potential unintentional burdens. For instance, research indicates that peers may assume high self-control individuals will excel in various tasks simply because they demonstrated control in one area, such as resisting impulse purchases. This expectation can extend to workload, as seen in studies where high self-control participants receive more tasks, causing resentment in interpersonal dynamics. Consequently, high self-control individuals may feel overwhelmed by the demands placed upon them by friends and colleagues.
The Perception of Effort Among Self-Control Individuals
There is a common misconception that individuals with high self-control experience tasks as easier, leading to an underestimation of their effort. Studies demonstrate that while both high and low self-control individuals find challenging tasks similarly difficult, others perceive high self-control individuals as facing less difficulty. This misperception can exacerbate feelings of burden and hinder relationship satisfaction, as high self-control individuals often feel their hard work goes unacknowledged. To foster healthier relationships, it's essential to recognize and validate the efforts of those with high self-control, balancing expectations with appreciation.
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Episode 3417:
Highly disciplined individuals often face high expectations from others, leading to overwork and underappreciation despite their visible accomplishments. Dr. Samantha Joel highlights research showing how these expectations ranging from better performance to handling more responsibilities can burden self-controlled people and strain their relationships. The article urges both highly disciplined individuals and those around them to balance expectations with fairness and empathy.
"People with high self-control might be left feeling overburdened by their friends, family, and coworkers."
"Completing difficult tasks is just as effortful for those with high self-control as it is for those with low self-control."
"Although high self-control individuals are happier in their relationships overall, they would be more satisfied still if their partners did not expect so much of them."