I learned with interest about the term “Crab mentality”. It came from observing the behavior of crabs in a bucket. Even if one of them has a chance to break free, reaching the boundary of the “prison”, the other crabs cling to him and pull him back. A similar phenomenon is observed in human communities, where people are extremely intolerant of those who have already achieved success or are making visible steps toward it. Whether the group dynamic is in science, business, philanthropy, film, or sports, the dynamics of preventing a comrade from escaping are universal. All you have to do is read the comments on social media to see for yourself.
Why do people do this? It seems to me it’s not just a matter of envy, jealousy or resentment. The other person’s accomplishments are a chilling reminder that I, too, could have done a lot if I had undertaken something decisive in the past. In other words, deep down we have a vague sense of our potential, but squander opportunities and time, only to torture ourselves later, “Too late!”
I would venture to say that the potential of most of those around you remains tragically unfulfilled. I see this problem even in entrepreneurs, who forge their own destiny. What about the rest of us, especially those who are stuck in jobs they hate or who have lost faith in themselves? It is unlikely that all people will suddenly have an epiphany. That is why it is so important to carefully choose your inner circle — partners, clients, colleagues, relatives and friends. Close communication has the effect of an echo chamber, which ends up forming either a nutrient solution or a poisonous environment for you.
The most important thing, however, is to go through the “bucket of crabs” within yourself. Our "Shawshank redemption" is hindered by false assumptions that either hold us by claws or we are sorry to let them go. It's reassuring to know that sometimes all it takes is one question to set us free.
Yours sincerely,
-Alexander
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