Why do we hesitate to stand up for our rights?

Evgeny Kreslavsky, psychotherapist, coach. “Past failures make us helpless”

We are passive when we are convinced that our efforts will be useless. American psychologist Martin Seligman called this behavior “learned helplessness”: past failures paralyze us. Fear of feeling defeated again and self-pity overpower common sense. It’s sweeter for us to feel sorry for ourselves than to seek justice.”

Alexander Shmelev, Doctor of Psychology. “We are afraid of losing more than gaining”

It’s hard to act when you don’t know your rights. In addition, we are afraid of losing more than gaining: seeking, for example, the payment of severance pay, you can be considered a brawler, which (what if?) Will affect further employment. Starting a lawsuit with an employer, we will not know the result (not necessarily positive) immediately, and such uncertainty also stops.

Mark Sandomiersky, psychotherapist. “We regress because of strong negative emotions”

In a stressful situation, we find ourselves in the grip of strong negative emotions (anxiety, resentment, resentment, shame) and literally regress. At such moments, we, like children, acutely feel our defenselessness, become too vulnerable and dependent on others. And it’s easier than usual to obey the imposed decisions.”