What is self-sabotage?
Self-sabotage refers to thoughts and feelings that undermine your long-term goals, says Tim Pychyl, a psychologist who studies procrastination and author of Solving the Procrastination Puzzle. Most people experience some form of self-sabotage at times, researchers say, though for some it remains occasional, while for others it becomes persistent and disruptive.
(Some people are always late. Science can explain why.)
It can take many forms, including procrastination, overeating, overspending, gambling, self-handicapping, or addiction, says Pychyl. Perfectionism, pessimism, self-criticism, or self-harm are others, Heriot-Maitland adds.
Self-sabotagers are often incorrectly perceived as lazy or lacking self-discipline, Pychyl says, but there’s a difference. With procrastination, for example, you’re willing to complete a task, but emotional or psychological factors get in the way; with laziness, there’s an “unwillingness to make an effort,” he says.
Why do we self-sabotage?
Self-sabotage likely has multiple causes, and more research is needed to understand it fully, says Philip Jean-Richard-dit-Bressel, a senior lecturer of psychology at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, who studies the psychobiology of decision-making and behavior.