Japanese Psychiatrist's Book 'People Who Rot the Workplace'
Excessive Narcissism Leaves Only a Sense of "I'm Great"
Companies Struggle, but Individuals Often Don't Realize They're the Problem
Author: "You Must Understand That Nature Never Changes"
People who force perseverance, look down on others, shift responsibility, hold others back, change their attitude depending on the person, and only think about self-protection exist in every workplace. The more such people there are, the more the workplace rots.
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On the 12th, the Japanese media outlet "Gendai Business" published a column by the author (psychiatrist Katada Tanami) of the recently bestselling book "People Who Rot the Workplace," which sold over 50,000 copies. This book reveals the psychology of people who rot the workplace through various cases, written by a psychiatrist who has treated more than 7,000 patients.
According to the author, in current Japanese society, there is an increasing number of people with strong narcissism to the extent that it is called a "narcissistic society." This is not a phenomenon unique to Japan. In fact, there are more people with stronger narcissism in the United States. Some voices point out that excessive narcissism is a chronic problem in the U.S., and a book titled "Narcissistic Society" has even been published.
The author stated that what was intended to create a free and democratic consumer society modeled after the U.S. also applies to Japan. Self-esteem, self-expression, and "liking oneself" are all current goals of Japanese education. It is not surprising that such education, like in the U.S., results in producing numerous narcissists. The biggest problem in current Japanese education is that there are many parents who excessively pamper and praise their children. Because the child's desires are prioritized, children are given whatever they want. The reason praising children is recommended is the belief that "praise raises self-esteem and leads to success." There is also a misconception that praising improves grades and enhances abilities.
The book introduces a male bank employee in his 20s who, despite being highly educated, is not good at his job and has a strong desire for recognition, always saying "I am this great" and cannot stand it unless he looks down on others. People of this type never think that their failure is due to their own shortcomings because their narcissism would be hurt. Therefore, they shift responsibility to others and act like victims. When they see someone doing well, they feel strong envy and try to slander or bring them down. The stronger the narcissism, the more they mistakenly believe they deserve special treatment. This sense of entitlement manifests in various ways. For example, they hope for "less work, more pay" in the workplace.
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The problem is that people who grow up in a "narcissistic society" and overestimate themselves do not even realize that their perception differs from those around them. Rather, they tend to feel strong anger, thinking "the problem is the surroundings that do not accept my wishes," and this anger often leads to vengeful behavior that rots the workplace. The author pointed out, "It is extremely difficult to change people who rot the workplace, and the structural factors hidden behind this also act as aggravating factors," adding, "There are often cases where the person is not aware that they hurt others and cause trouble around them."
The author, who is in charge of mental health counseling at companies, said that usually all employees are interviewed, and those who receive consultations from others saying "I am troubled because of that person" or "Can't something be done about that person?" often respond themselves with "There is no problem" or "I have no worries," which surprised him. The author said, "As the proverb goes, 'Old habits die hard,' human personality fundamentally does not change after the age of 18 at the latest," and cited as his motto the words of 17th-century French aristocratic writer La Rochefoucauld: "There is a cure for madness, but no cure for a crooked character." He continued, "In the 21st century, various medicines that 'cure madness' have been developed and sold, but if the person is not aware of their illness, they will not take the medicine, so naturally, no effect can be expected," concluding, "This is something readers should keep in mind, above all to protect their own well-being."
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