Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) and Mental Health Ramifications

“There is a toxic social phenomenon that impacts almost every successful or fledgling [person]. It’s a tendency to cut others down for their achievements. To criticise or undermine those who display their difference, originality, ambition or unique talent. It’s a cluster of envy, low self-esteem, fear and resentment, and it disassembles supportive communities: it’s called tall poppy syndrome” (Arts Hub, 2017).

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Up to 70% of people in Australia believe others view “ambition” negatively (Newport Institute)!

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We’ve probably all heard about TPS, especially in Australia. We experience the prevalence of TPS in Australia as we generally value egalitarianism more than individualism — although that is difficult to comprehend with the selfishness we see in ‘current affairs’ these days.

I recently pondered the whole concept of TPS, having recently brushed off a few instances. But, I thought, what if TPS is a more severe phenomenon than it’s made out to be? What mental health implications manifest through…