If one watches local TV, reads various fitness magazines or attends different
fitness or sports conventions, you cannot believe just how much egomania
reigns in the fitness, health, entertainment and sporting worlds. Can any of
you ever imagine calling yourself, The Master, The Guru, the World's Best
Coach, the World's Greatest?
Now, we also have increasing numbers of therapists, chiropractors, exercise
physiologists, sports coaches and sport psychologists joining the same
bandwagon, as becomes painfully evident if their doctrines, findings or
methods are even vaguely questioned.
Could you actually believe these self proclamations, even if you pronounced
them? Surely if you are THAT good, everyone will know that fact, anyway, and
there will be no need for self appraisal.
Surely, excelling at the highest national and international levels offers
enough recognition without the urge to say that you are "the greatest"? Why
does winning or being highly successful often not seem enough? Why must
constant vociferous approval for the act of winning or being successful be
demanded? Can we understand this simply as fulfillment of simplistic
Maslovian needs (such as status/ego/self-esteem, or social/loving/belonging
needs) or does the issue run far deeper than that? Could one class some of
this as manifesting a psychosis or neurosis?
Once upon a time, in bygone days, there was a saying, "Self praise is no
recommendation", but nowadays it appears as if "self praise is the finest
recommendation."
It is fascinating trying to understand the psychology of folk who seem
compelled to behave in that manner. Where does this Guru Syndrome begin? Is
it due to lack of parental appreciation in youth? Is it due to feelings of
inadequacy? Is it due to delusions of grandeur? Is it blindness to the
achievements of others? Is it due to a superiority complex? Is it due to
voices from the heavenly realm? Is it a cry for help and love? Is it a
basic animal urge to rule the roost and fight to control more territory? Are
there any professional or amateur psychologists out there who would care to
analyse this growing trend?
Anyhow, whatever it may be, it appears as if some folks need a lot of
stroking and, when they do not receive that, they have to stroke themselves
over and over for all to see. At least the porno web sites keep that sort of
thing to themselves, but increasing numbers of our therapeutic, sporting,
fitness, consulting and entertainment gurus do it in public!
Mel Siff
Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
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