The Tribune

BY KIRKLAND PRATT

Are you like Jonah?

Dr Abraham Maslow, the famous psychologist whose brainchild is the Maslow hierarchy of needs (a categorization of man’s social, physical and emotional needs), is also responsible for the term Jonah Complex. Simply put, the Jonah Complex speaks to man’s fear of his own greatness – even when exposed to the same information and opportunity as his peers.

Life has a way of putting us in a position where we have to take responsibility or perish. We see in the biblical story of Jonah a prime example of a man wanting to shirk his duty. The phrase/term “The Jonah Complex” attributed to Maslow but actually inspired by Professor Frank Manuel is used to describe this attitude or response to life.

The Jonah complex can generally be classified into two schools of thought: how one treats others and how one treats one’s self. A person who is typically suffering from this complex avoids the big prize, he sees it as unattainable or a ‘stress’ as we say often in Bahamian lingo. A conversation with the Jonah Complex sufferer may go like this: “I ein wan no big position like dat cus all dat is headache – I happy right here.” The second school of thought may find itself embedded in envy and/or intimidation. Those who have grabbed the bull by the horns and who have faced the obstacles and succeeded may find themselves faced with the green eyed monster with the Jonah Complex.

Several weeks ago for the first time I drove from my home in Sans Souci to the new by-way at Bahamar in the west to take advantage of the wider and safer streets for cycling: very inconvenient but certainly safer. The next day I was approached by a casual friend who said “you move up aye? I see you cycling in the white people area - boy you ever did think you was saying something.” I kid you not. I suppose I should force myself to transverse more cramped streets lest I appear too uptown.

It is not rare, however, for any of us to experience this mind set in everyday Bahamian living. My professional assessment, in general, places the underachiever as underachieved not because the skill set isn’t evidenced but the fear of optimising it is alive and well. Complacency and lack of challenge becomes a bad habit but safe. It is easy to suggest that sticking with the ‘devil you know’ is wise.

Moreover, many friendships are formulated out of a dubious codependent love/hate relationship that we may have found ourselves experiencing at some point or the other. The friend with the Jonah Complex may be intrigued by the success that his friend presents but may have cycles of hostility and anxiety accounting for all of the inexplicable mood swings in the said one-sided friendship arrangement.

During therapy, within the clinically based relationship, I focus heavily on formulating an environment of acceptance with the view of sensitisation towards a genuine bond. The goal is to spawn a more genuine expectation from the client releasing the urge to rely on others in codependency and with the view to becoming more self-actualised.

So, are you suffering from the Jonah Complex? Engage in self-talk. Create a habit of positive affirmation and yes, challenge yourself. You’ll be amazed at your progress.

Keep thinking though, you are good for it.