I didn’t really thing this one applied to me, but then I thought about situations with similar contexts:
- purposely not learning or using the correct name for tools (“do you want the square headed screwdriver or the star headed one?”)
- pretending not to know, or hesitating before giving, the answer to a math question (yes, I have done this! the shame!)
- not trying to do my best when playing strategic games, to ensure I don’t win, or at least don’t win by much
- adding the phrase “at least, I think so” after saying things that I actually know for a fact.
Some of this certainly comes from my high school years of being bullied, and wanting to avoid giving people any more reasons to dislike me, but many are simply ways to keep from being viewed as aggressive (which is much the same thing, I guess)
From: https://thecooperreview.com/non-threatening-leadership-strategies-for-women/
I have some of the same behaviours, stemming from being a smart kid. I sometimes justify holding back as a way to give others a chance to shine or to at least participate (the educator in me perhaps) but that’s different from saying the right answer and then undermining myself, which I also do. Seriously, though, I really can’t remember the names of the screwdrivers. But that doesn’t stop me from using them 🙂
I actually only remember their names because “Robertson Square” sounds like a place to me, therefore the square screwdriver is a Roberston. 🙂 But it made for a good example haha!