The Burnout Society
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
Modern society has shifted from a 'disciplinary society' (negativity/prohibition) to an 'achievement society' (positivity/because you can). Individuals exploit themselves, draining themselves in order to 'be able to'. Burnout is not due to oppression, but to excessive self-compulsion. Scaffold role: the trap of self-exploitation. We are our own slave masters. Realizing that 'I must be excellent' is also a tyranny. Learning 'inability'—admitting that you cannot do something and pressing the pause button—is the salvation of modern people.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
The trap of self-exploitation. We are our own slave masters. Realizing that 'I must be excellent' is also a tyranny. Learning 'inability'—admitting that you cannot do something and pressing the pause button—is the salvation of modern people.
Anchor fast decisions
Byung-Chul Han proposes that contemporary society has shifted from a Foucauldian 'disciplinary society' (prohibitions of the other, negativity) to an 'achievement society' (self-compulsion, positivity). Individuals are no longer the oppressed but 'self-entrepreneurs' who actively exploit themselves, draining themselves for the sake of 'being able/must be better'. Burnout stems from excessive self-driven positivity, not external oppression.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/5Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burnout_Societyverified
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