Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

I have observed people change their mind from one extreme to another. Is there a name for this behavior?

I have observed something about people and I am searching for a name for this behavior. I have observed this across decades, organizations, and areas of endeavor. Here is how it goes:

Consultant: Let’s try something new – it is called Practice A.

Affected Persons: No, no, no! Practice A is too much of a bother.

Consultant: Let’s try Practice A. I think you will see that it isn’t too much of a bother.

time passes

Affected Persons: While doing Practice A, I think we should also do sub-practice a, sub-practice b, sub-practice c…and sub-practice z as well.

I hope the above summarizes the behavior. Affected persons don’t want to try a new practice. Once, however, they are into the new practice, they want to do another dozen things inside it. They have flip flopped from one extreme to another concerning a practice.

I don’t understand this behavior, but there are many human behaviors that I don’t understand.

Regardless, I would like to know what you call this behavior. Surely someone has a name for it – something better than “flip flopping to extremes.”