Self-sabotage: Causes, Characteristics and Types

Juan has met a girl he really likes, however moments before the date he doesn’t feel very well and cancels it. María has started a new project that could mean a great change and advancement in her life, but she never has time to finish it.

On numerous occasions, people find themselves involved in this type of dynamics. In certain cases the circumstances really do not favor you; However, in most cases the main obstacle is the person themselves, who out of fear of future changes he falls prey to self-sabotage. Let’s see what this phenomenon consists of.

What is self-sabotage?

Self-sabotage and all those behaviors that are related to it, are unconscious acts that appear in moments that can represent a great change in people’s lives, whatever the type. These behaviors tend to hinder the achievement of goals or achievements through unconscious self-manipulation.

The goal of self-sabotage is keep the person within their comfort zone, within which everything is easy or, at least, predictable. It is also a type of unconscious defense mechanism through which the person tries to avoid possible future suffering, stressful situations or unknown situations.

Its causes

There are a large number of possible causes of self-sabotage. Taking these causes into account, it will be easier for the person to avoid them and thus more easily achieve what they want. These causes can be:

All these signs, beliefs and traces that live in the person’s mind appear unexpectedly, acquiring control over the person and their behaviors and interfering in the projects and possibilities of evolution of this.

Self-sabotage is a manifestation of all those aspects that the person cannot accept about themselves, all those beliefs based on fears and that, over time, by not being confronted, have gained weight and power within them.

Therefore, these obsessive thoughts and harmful behaviors are only a symptom that there is something deep in thought that needs to be examined. Although on many occasions delving into these thoughts is not pleasant, this evaluation of oneself can be an opportunity to move forward and to learn to face any future situation that may arise.

Characteristics of self-sabotage

There are a series of defining characteristics of self-sabotage, which cause it to appear before certain situations but not in others. That is to say, a person who unconsciously sabotages himself when facing a certain aspect or circumstance of his life does not have to do so in all the others.

These self-sabotaging behaviors They appear especially in situations that involve great responsibility or when the person must make an important decision which will imply some type of change in their life.

The symptoms or manifestations experienced by a person who is prey to self-sabotage include:

However, it is perfectly normal for a person to perceive all these sensations when they are about to undergo some type of change in their life; it is something that everyone experiences to a lesser or greater degree.

The main difference between people who self-sabotage and those who don’t is that those who do They let themselves be carried away by fear and their beliefs that they will not achieve it while the others are capable of leaving these fears behind and overcoming all the thoughts that generate insecurity.

The most important thing when facing any type of eventuality or transformation is not to avoid or avoid this fear, but be aware of it and act accordingly without letting it invade our mind.

When the person becomes aware of both their fears and their own beliefs, in many cases irrational, it is much easier to choose the best decisions and avoid carrying out sabotaging actions that stop or obstruct their aspirations.

Types of self-sabotage

There are four types of self-sabotage, which They are classified according to the type of behavior carried out by the person.

1. Not finishing things

In these cases, the person starts a large number of challenges or projects which they end up leaving halfway or even abandoning. Usually, the person tends to dedicate numerous hours of work and effort, and then give up when he is about to achieve it.

The explanation found for this phenomenon is that if the person does not finish this or any other project, You will never have to face the possibility of failure or not knowing how to live up to the subsequent demands that this success will entail.

However, what really happens is that they will never be aware of their potential, and at the same time they will perceive themselves as a mediocre and incompetent person.

2. Procrastination

Procrastination is said to be the art of postponing things. It consists of the habit of postponing or delaying those activities that the person must necessarily attend to, replacing them with other less significant or simpler and more attractive ones.

This habit is one of the most common among the population, and the reasons for doing it are very varied. Some of these reasons may be that the person does not really like the task to be carried out or, and this is the most widespread reason within the scope of personal and professional projects, that the person experiences a fear of the final result.

In this way, if the person postpones completing the task and does not invest all the necessary efforts and resources, they will have a justification if it does not turn out as they expected. In other words, if the person dedicates all his time and effort to achieving something and still does not achieve it, he will reveal his supposed incompetence, therefore if he does not make an effort this will serve as an excuse for failure.

3. Perfectionism

Perfectionism or the ideal excuse to never finish. Under the shield of perfectionism the person finds the perfect excuse not to move forward without seeming like he really doesn’t know if he wants to achieve what he’s working for.

There are two possibilities within the excuse of perfectionism. Either the person thinks that since he cannot do something perfectly he will not do it, or that through constant revisions and changes avoid finishing the project.

• Related article: “https://Psychology For/personalidad/personalidad-percciónista-desventajas”

4. Excuses

In addition to all of the above, the person can find a large number of excuses to justify themselves. not face any changes or possible risks. These excuses can range from lack of time, financial resources, age, etc.