Fear of success is a psychological phenomenon where individuals consciously or subconsciously resist achieving their goals due to the anticipated pressures, expectations, or disruptions that success may bring. While often overshadowed by discussions of failure, fear of success is a significant and underexplored barrier for many artists. In creative fields, where public recognition, validation, and visibility are integral to career progression, fear of success can stifle ambition, block creativity, and lead to self-sabotage.
This article delves into the psychological, sociological, and cultural roots of fear of success in the arts, its manifestations, and strategies for overcoming it. By examining academic research, case studies, and the unique dynamics of the arts ecosystem, we aim to shed light on this paradoxical challenge and provide tools for artists to navigate it.
Understanding Fear of Success
What Is Fear of Success?
The concept of fear of success was first introduced by psychologist Matina Horner in the 1970s. Horner’s research found that individuals, particularly women, often avoided or feared achievement due to the social consequences it could bring. Fear of success involves anxiety about the potential negative outcomes of achieving one’s goals, such as increased expectations, criticism, or alienation from peers.
Key Characteristics of Fear of Success:
1. Increased Pressure: Worrying about the heightened expectations that come with success.
2. Fear of Isolation: Concerns about being distanced from peers or communities due to perceived changes in status.
3. Self-Sabotage: Engaging in behaviors that undermine one’s own success to avoid its consequences.
4. Imposter Syndrome: Doubting one’s abilities and feeling unworthy of recognition, often intertwined with fear of success.
How Fear of Success Manifests in the Arts
1. Self-Sabotage
Artists with fear of success may unconsciously undermine their efforts by procrastinating, rejecting opportunities, or not completing projects.
• Example: A painter who delays submitting work to a prestigious competition may rationalize the decision as “not being ready,” while underlying fears of recognition or visibility are at play.
• Scholarship Insight: In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron describes self-sabotage as a “creative U-turn,” where artists retreat from opportunities due to fear of the unknown.
2. Procrastination or Perfectionism
Fear of success often leads to procrastination or perfectionism, as artists delay sharing their work to avoid the pressures of public judgment or future expectations.
• Example: A musician may spend years perfecting an album, never releasing it, fearing that its success would demand more frequent or higher-quality output.
• Research Insight: In Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, Emily and Amelia Nagoski argue that perfectionism, driven by fear of success, creates cycles of avoidance and exhaustion.
3. Avoidance of High-Stakes Opportunities
Artists may shy away from applying for residencies, grants, or gallery representation, fearing the obligations or expectations that success in these arenas might bring.
• Example: A writer might decline a book deal, worried about the pressure to deliver a follow-up or meet critical acclaim.
• Scholarship Insight: Valerie Young, in The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, notes that fear of success often stems from societal pressures to conform and avoid standing out.
4. Difficulty Accepting Success
Even when success is achieved, artists with this fear may downplay or dismiss their accomplishments, attributing them to luck or external factors rather than their own talent.
• Example: A filmmaker whose work wins an award may publicly diminish the recognition, fearing that accepting it fully will create future expectations they cannot meet.
Psychological and Sociological Roots of Fear of Success
1. Psychological Barriers
• Cognitive Dissonance: Artists may experience a conflict between their desire for success and their fear of its consequences, creating a cycle of ambivalence.
• Scholarship Insight: Leon Festinger, in A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, describes how individuals avoid situations that force them to reconcile contradictory beliefs, such as wanting visibility but fearing judgment.
• Imposter Syndrome: Fear of success often overlaps with imposter syndrome, where individuals feel unworthy of their achievements and fear being “exposed” as frauds.
• Data Insight: A 2018 study published in the Journal of Behavioral Psychology found that 70% of individuals in creative fields experience imposter syndrome, with many reporting fear of achieving recognition.
2. Sociological Factors
• Cultural Narratives: In the arts, success is often seen as both a reward and a burden. Cultural narratives like the “tortured artist” myth romanticize struggle and poverty, framing success as a betrayal of authenticity.
• Scholarship Insight: Richard Florida, in The Rise of the Creative Class, critiques how cultural myths perpetuate the idea that true artistry is incompatible with commercial success.
• Social Dynamics: Success can create tension in creative communities, where peer relationships are often built on shared struggles. Artists may fear alienation or resentment from their peers if they achieve greater visibility or financial stability.
• Example: A playwright who secures a major production deal might avoid discussing it with peers, fearing envy or judgment.
The Impact of Fear of Success on Artists
1. Stifled Creativity
The anxiety associated with success can lead artists to avoid taking risks or pursuing ambitious projects, limiting their creative growth.
• Example: A photographer might stick to familiar subject matter, fearing that experimenting with new styles could alienate their audience.
• Scholarship Insight: In Creativity and Fear, David Bayles and Ted Orland argue that fear, whether of failure or success, is the primary barrier to creative exploration.
2. Professional Stagnation
Fear of success often results in missed opportunities, as artists decline invitations, avoid networking, or fail to pursue career milestones.
• Data Insight: A 2019 survey by The Creative Independent found that 64% of artists had declined or avoided opportunities due to fear of the expectations or responsibilities they might bring.
3. Emotional and Mental Health Challenges
The psychological toll of fear of success includes heightened anxiety, chronic stress, and feelings of inadequacy, even in the face of achievements.
• Research Insight: In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown notes that the fear of standing out often stems from cultural conditioning that equates visibility with vulnerability and risk.
Strategies for Overcoming Fear of Success
1. Reframe Success as Growth
• Practice: View success as a learning opportunity rather than a final judgment of worth.
• Scholarship Insight: Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset emphasizes that reframing success as part of a lifelong process reduces anxiety and perfectionism.
2. Address Imposter Syndrome
• Practice: Keep a journal of achievements, focusing on how your skills and efforts contributed to success.
• Scholarship Insight: Valerie Young recommends normalizing discussions about imposter syndrome to reduce its stigma and foster self-compassion.
3. Set Boundaries
• Action: Define what success means to you and establish boundaries to prevent overcommitment or burnout.
• Example: An artist might choose to limit commissions to preserve time for personal projects, balancing visibility with creative autonomy.
4. Seek Supportive Communities
• Practice: Build relationships with peers and mentors who celebrate your successes without judgment or envy.
• Example: Joining artist collectives or critique groups can provide a safe space for sharing achievements and navigating new responsibilities.
5. Normalize Success in the Arts
• Action: Challenge cultural narratives that equate struggle with authenticity, advocating for sustainable and celebrated creative careers.
• Scholarship Insight: Julia Cameron, in The Artist’s Way, argues that success is not antithetical to artistry but a natural extension of creative practice.
Conclusion
Fear of success is a paradox that affects many artists, intertwining personal insecurities with societal pressures and cultural narratives. While it can be challenging to confront, understanding its roots and manifestations is the first step toward breaking its hold. By reframing success, addressing imposter syndrome, and building supportive networks, artists can navigate the pressures of achievement and embrace their creative potential. As Brené Brown reminds us, “Owning our success is the most courageous act of all. It is a declaration that we are worthy of our dreams, not because of perfection, but because of our persistence.”
Works Cited
• Bayles, David, and Ted Orland. Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking. Image Continuum Press, 1993.
• Brown, Brené. The Gifts of Imperfection. Hazelden Publishing, 2010.
• Cameron, Julia. The Artist’s Way. TarcherPerigee, 1992.
• Dweck, Carol. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballantine Books, 2006.
• Florida, Richard. The Rise of the Creative Class. Basic Books, 2002.
• Horner, Matina. The Fear of Success: A Study of Women’s Motivation. Journal of Social Issues, 1972.
• Nagoski, Emily, and Amelia Nagoski. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. Ballantine Books, 2019.
• Young, Valerie. The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from Imposter Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It. Crown Business, 2011.
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