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[[File:Pieter Lastman - Jonah and the Whale - Google Art Project.jpg|thumbnail|350px|right|[[Jonah (prophet)|Jonah]] and the Whale (1621) by Pieter Lastman]]

[[File:Pieter Lastman - Jonah and the Whale - Google Art Project.jpg|thumbnail|350px|right|[[Jonah (prophet)|Jonah]] and the Whale (1621) by Pieter Lastman]]

The '''Jonah Complex''' is the: fear of success; [[Change management|fear of change]]; fear of [[Personal development|personal growth]], fear of [[self-actualization|reaching one's potential]]; fear of achieving one's aspirations and dreams; and fear of meeting one's social and God-given responsibilities ([[golden rule]], etc.).<ref>[[Abraham Maslow]] (October 1993). "The Jonah Complex". [https://books.google.com/books?id=LRcSeVPS9ykC&q=jonah+complex The Farther Reaches of Human Nature]. ISBN 9780140194708.</ref><ref>Department of Cognitive Science, Chris VerWys. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, [https://web.archive.org/web/20090328180625/http://www.rpi.edu/~verwyc/MASLOWOH.htm Personality Psychology], Abraham Maslow</ref><ref>[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/009164718201000202 Desacralizing Life and its Mystery: The Jonah Complex Revisited] by Pierre-E. Lacocque. ''Journal of Psychology and Theology'', Volume 10, Issue 2, https://doi.org/10.1177/009164718201000202</ref>  

The '''Jonah complex''' is the: fear of success; [[Change management|fear of change]]; fear of [[Personal development|personal growth]], fear of [[self-actualization|reaching one's potential]]; fear of achieving one's aspirations and dreams; and fear of meeting one's social and God-given responsibilities ([[golden rule]], etc.).<ref>[[Abraham Maslow]] (October 1993). "The Jonah Complex". [https://books.google.com/books?id=LRcSeVPS9ykC&q=jonah+complex The Farther Reaches of Human Nature]. ISBN 9780140194708.</ref><ref>Department of Cognitive Science, Chris VerWys. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, [https://web.archive.org/web/20090328180625/http://www.rpi.edu/~verwyc/MASLOWOH.htm Personality Psychology], Abraham Maslow</ref><ref>[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/009164718201000202 Desacralizing Life and its Mystery: The Jonah Complex Revisited] by Pierre-E. Lacocque. ''Journal of Psychology and Theology'', Volume 10, Issue 2, https://doi.org/10.1177/009164718201000202</ref>  

The Jonah Complex may interfere with an individual's [[achievement orientation]] and hinder a person's ability to achieve organizational/societal aims and goals.<ref>[[Abraham Maslow]] (October 1993). "The Jonah Complex". [https://books.google.com/books?id=LRcSeVPS9ykC&q=jonah+complex The Farther Reaches of Human Nature]. ISBN 9780140194708.</ref>

The Jonah complex may interfere with an individual's [[achievement orientation]] and hinder a person's ability to achieve organizational/societal aims and goals.<ref>[[Abraham Maslow]] (October 1993). "The Jonah Complex". [https://books.google.com/books?id=LRcSeVPS9ykC&q=jonah+complex The Farther Reaches of Human Nature]. ISBN 9780140194708.</ref>

The Jonah Complex is more evident is [[Neuroticism|neurotic]] people.<ref> Feist, Gregory; Feist, Jess (2009). Theories of personality (7th ed.). New York McGraw-Hill Higher Education. p. 300. ISBN 978-0-07-338270-8.</ref><ref>[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/009164718201000202 Desacralizing Life and its Mystery: The Jonah Complex Revisited] by Pierre-E. Lacocque. ''Journal of Psychology and Theology'', Volume 10, Issue 2, https://doi.org/10.1177/009164718201000202 (See: [https://www.jstor.org/stable/27505865 JSTOR copy of the journal article])</ref>   

The Jonah complex is more evident is [[Neuroticism|neurotic]] people.<ref> Feist, Gregory; Feist, Jess (2009). Theories of personality (7th ed.). New York McGraw-Hill Higher Education. p. 300. ISBN 978-0-07-338270-8.</ref><ref>[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/009164718201000202 Desacralizing Life and its Mystery: The Jonah Complex Revisited] by Pierre-E. Lacocque. ''Journal of Psychology and Theology'', Volume 10, Issue 2, https://doi.org/10.1177/009164718201000202 (See: [https://www.jstor.org/stable/27505865 JSTOR copy of the journal article])</ref>   

== Etymology of the term ==

== Etymology of the term ==

[[Abraham Maslow]], who is credited with originating the concept of the Jonah Complex, stated: "So often we run away from the responsibilities dictated (or rather suggested) by nature, by fate, even sometimes by accident, just as Jonah tried—in vain—to run away from his fate".<ref>[[Abraham Maslow]] (October 1993). "The Jonah Complex". [https://books.google.com/books?id=LRcSeVPS9ykC&q=jonah+complex The Farther Reaches of Human Nature]. ISBN 9780140194708.</ref>

[[Abraham Maslow]], who is credited with originating the concept of the Jonah Complex, stated: "So often we run away from the responsibilities dictated (or rather suggested) by nature, by fate, even sometimes by accident, just as Jonah tried—in vain—to run away from his fate".<ref>[[Abraham Maslow]] (October 1993). "The Jonah Complex". [https://books.google.com/books?id=LRcSeVPS9ykC&q=jonah+complex The Farther Reaches of Human Nature]. ISBN 9780140194708.</ref>

== Symptoms of the Jonah Complex ==

== Symptoms of the Jonah complex ==

Symptoms of the Jonah Complex include:<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/fear-of-success Explaining the Fear of Success], Healthline.com</ref>

Symptoms of the Jonah complex include:<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/fear-of-success Explaining the Fear of Success], Healthline.com</ref>

- '''Low goals.''' See: [[Goal setting]]

- '''Low goals.''' See: [[Goal setting]]

- '''Self-destructiveness/self-sabotage'''

- '''Self-destructiveness/self-sabotage'''

== Causes of the Jonah Complex ==

== Causes of the Jonah complex ==

Causes of the Jonah Complex include:<ref>[https://psychcentral.com/blog/imperfect/2016/01/is-it-fear-of-failure-or-fear-of-success Is it Fear of Failure or Fear of Success?], PsychCentral</ref><ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/fear-of-success Explaining the Fear of Success], Healthline.com</ref><ref>[https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-fear-of-success-5179184 What Is the Fear of Success?] by Kendra Cherry, MSEd</ref>

Causes of the Jonah complex include:<ref>[https://psychcentral.com/blog/imperfect/2016/01/is-it-fear-of-failure-or-fear-of-success Is it Fear of Failure or Fear of Success?], PsychCentral</ref><ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/fear-of-success Explaining the Fear of Success], Healthline.com</ref><ref>[https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-fear-of-success-5179184 What Is the Fear of Success?] by Kendra Cherry, MSEd</ref>

-  Unsure of one's abilities. See: [[Self-efficacy]]

-  Unsure of one's abilities. See: [[Self-efficacy]]

- Childhood trauma. Lack of parental support.

- Childhood trauma. Lack of parental support.

== Overcoming the Jonah Complex ==

== Overcoming the Jonah complex ==

Ways of overcoming the Jonah Complex include:<ref>[https://psychcentral.com/blog/imperfect/2016/01/is-it-fear-of-failure-or-fear-of-success Is it Fear of Failure or Fear of Success?], PsychCentral</ref><ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/fear-of-success Explaining the Fear of Success], Healthline.com</ref><ref>[https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-fear-of-success-5179184 What Is the Fear of Success?] by Kendra Cherry, MSEd</ref>

Ways of overcoming the Jonah complex include:<ref>[https://psychcentral.com/blog/imperfect/2016/01/is-it-fear-of-failure-or-fear-of-success Is it Fear of Failure or Fear of Success?], PsychCentral</ref><ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/fear-of-success Explaining the Fear of Success], Healthline.com</ref><ref>[https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-fear-of-success-5179184 What Is the Fear of Success?] by Kendra Cherry, MSEd</ref>

- Adopting a [[growth mindset]]. Realizing that accomplishing goals is a matter of progress and not perfection.

- Adopting a [[growth mindset]]. Realizing that accomplishing goals is a matter of progress and not perfection.