Procrustes Syndrome: Do It Well, But Do Not Do It Better Than Me

Procrustes Syndrome is when people look down on anyone who is more talented or skilled than them. They even discriminate and harass them.

They are people who never move forward or let anyone else move on. Frustrated, with a big head, they are everywhere.

Maybe a name comes to mind. We should also add that this caricature – which is far too real, unfortunately – surprisingly enough, has inspired several books and films.

They are, to put it another way, the classic antagonist in our workplaces, classrooms and families. And we’re talking about more than just being a ‘climber’.

Although Procrustes’ syndrome is not in any diagnostic manual and has no medical basis, it is perfectly encapsulated in what psychologists know as “pointed elbow behavior”. That is, to get rid of the most brilliant people in a hostile way and to exclude the smartest people out of pure intolerance and ego. Because, for them, there is nothing worse than being surpassed in any way, no matter how small.

The myth of Procrustes

Although the myth of Procrustes is not very well known, it is undoubtedly one of the most gloomy and terrible. According to Greek mythology , the character was a giant who ran a hostel in the highest hills of Attica.

There he also offered travelers accommodation. But beneath the beams and the friendly roof that brought rest and comfort, an eerie secret was hidden.

Prokustes had a bed where he invited travelers to get some rest. At night, when they fell asleep, he would gag and tie them.

If the victim was taller and his feet, hands or head went out of bed, Prokustes continued to cut them off. If the person was smaller, he snapped their legs to stretch them to the right size.

This dark character performed his atrocities for years until a very special man came to his inn: Theseus.

As we already know, this hero gained fame by confronting Minotauros in Crete, and later to become king of Athens.

They say that when Thesevs discovered what this sadist was doing at night, he decided to give Procrustes a taste of his own medicine.

From there, a warning arose: be careful, when someone perceives that your opinions do not agree with theirs, or they see that you are smarter than them, they will not hesitate to put you in  Prokrustesseng.

How do people with Procrustes Syndrome behave?

There is no doubt that no one acts with the same violence as Procrustes in our daily lives. But what we see is the same hidden aggressiveness – in sports, politics, business, etc.

In fact, we all know that those who hold the highest positions in an organization are not always the most competent or qualified.

So when a smart, proactive, creative person who is capable of beating them in more ways than one shows up, they use their awful tricks to defeat them, humiliate them and put them in a corner where they are no longer “a threat”.

Characteristics of people with Procrustes syndrome

• They are people who live with constant frustration and a feeling of not having control.
• Extremely low or excessively high self-esteem.
• They are very emotionally sensitive. If they see someone doing something good, they take it as a serious insult.
• Also, they like to “sell us” the idea that they are very empathetic, a team player. But it’s really just a big ego and rigid, extremely hostile thoughts.
• They want to monopolize everything. Their competitiveness has one goal: to stand out from everyone else.

• Fear of change. This is common in traditional business models.
• They also make irrational assessments. For example, if we do something at work that could benefit the company, they see it as a mistake, a completely useless idea.

A person with Procrustes Syndrome spends all their energy limiting the abilities of others. They are dream strikers, hope killers, psychological manipulators and masters of covert aggression.

Last but not least, we should also add that they manipulate people or abuse trust to “put an end” to successful people.

Do not let people with Procrustes Syndrome carry you in

When we are around difficult people, it is almost always best to “first learn to understand them and later deal with them”.

When it comes to the worst cases of Procrustes Syndrome, it is best to distance yourself. Remember that talent does not go well with threats or rigid and harmful power.

“Pointed elbow behavior” goes far beyond simple competition. When there’s an attack, when your boss or brother does anything to humiliate and beat you, close that door.

Then we recommend taking steps to look for places and people that allow you to spread your wings.

Despite all the Prokrustes in your life, never let them break you. We were all born to stand out in one way or another. Let’s embrace it and find a place where it can flourish.