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Why the APA Claims That the 'Benefits of Failure' Are Overrated: Finding Balance for Optimal Wellbeing.
The APA examines why glorifying failure might impede progress, highlighting the potential drawbacks while opening the door for more nuanced, balanced personal strategies.
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Sanjeev K Yadav
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We often perceive failure as falling short of the goals we set for ourselves. These goals can span various aspects of life:
- Health Targets: Not achieving a specific weight loss goal, fitness milestone, or maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Social Aims: Struggling to build meaningful relationships, not being able to network effectively, or facing challenges in social interactions.
- Achievements: Not reaching career milestones, missing academic goals, or failing to complete personal projects.
Failure is the gap between our expectations and our actual outcomes. It’s a natural part of the growth process, but it can feel disheartening and discouraging when we don’t meet our own standards.
On the other hand, success is not just about hitting the bullseye on the first try. It’s about how we respond to setbacks and challenges:
- Problem-Solving: Identifying what went wrong and taking proactive steps to address the issues. This might involve seeking new strategies, learning from mistakes, or adjusting our approach.
- Progress: Making consistent efforts towards our goals, even if we haven’t reached them yet. Each small step forward is a sign of success, as it shows commitment and determination to improve.
- Resilience: Demonstrating the ability to bounce back from failures and continue striving towards our objectives. Success is often measured by our persistence and ability to keep moving forward despite obstacles.
Our culture often tells us that failure is just a step toward success. Inspirational quotes and stories emphasize overcoming setbacks as a necessary part of the journey. But is this always the case?
Recent research that was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology and emphasized by the American Psychological Association sheds light on this common belief. In a series of 11 studies conducted in both laboratory and real-world settings among around 1800 participants, researchers found that people consistently overestimate how often failures lead to success in areas like health, careers, education, and personal goals.
Participants believed that:
- Many professionals who failed standardized tests would eventually pass (which they didn’t)
- Many people with addictions would get over their addictions (which they didn’t)
- Many heart failure patients would improve their health by adopting healthier lifestyle (which they didn’t)
This optimistic bias suggests that while failure can teach valuable lessons and build resilience, it’s not a universal prerequisite for success. In some cases, failure doesn’t inevitably lead to eventual success, and overestimating this likelihood can have unintended consequences.
For example,
People may take more uncalculated risks and feel less afraid if they expect positive growth after failure.
This situation is commonly encountered by individuals involved in finance, entrepreneurial investments, or major career advancements. However, their psychological wellbeing in these situations depends on their psychological capital if they fail.
Implications for Organizations
When leaders and organizations overestimate success after failure, they might unintentionally provide less support to those who need it most. Assuming that employees will naturally bounce back may lead to a lack of necessary programs and policies to assist them.
On the other hand, if they are made aware of the actual rates of success following failure, leaders are more inclined to support initiatives aimed at helping individuals learn and grow from their setbacks. This approach fosters a more compassionate and supportive work environment, encouraging growth and improvement. These are crucial for the greater psychological wellbeing of the workforce.
The Entrepreneurial Perspective
For entrepreneurs, failure is often part of the journey. The path to success frequently involves navigating setbacks, learning from mistakes, and adapting strategies. In entrepreneurship, resilience and a willingness to learn from failures can be crucial components of eventual success.
However, it’s important to recognize that failure isn’t the only path to achievement, even in entrepreneurship. Proactively seeking knowledge, mentorship, and embracing continuous learning can also lead to success without the need for significant failures.
Professions Where Failure Isn't an Option
In some areas, the cost of failure is simply too high, for example:
Pilots don’t crash several planes before becoming expert aviators.
Surgeons don’t make numerous critical errors before mastering operations.
Engineers don’t design multiple collapsing structures before perfecting their skills.
These professionals follow rigorous training, adhere to strict guidelines, and often rely on standardized procedures to minimize failures from the outset. Their success is built on preparation, education, and adherence to best practices.
Areas Where Failure Is Commonly Accepted as a Precursor to Success
There are areas where encountering failures is more common on the path to success:
- Personal Growth
- Education and Career Development
- Relationships
- Health and Fitness
- Leadership
- Public Speaking
- Financial Management
- Entrepreneurship
In these areas, failures can serve as valuable learning experiences. They provide insights that guide future actions and decisions. Embracing failures in these contexts can lead to personal development and, ultimately, success.
While failure can be a powerful teacher, it is essential to maintain a balanced perspective. Not every failure leads to success, and overestimating this connection can prevent us from
a) Providing necessary support to those who need it.
b) Upgrading and improving one’s knowledge, skills, and abilities
c) Learning and implementing the right strategies and executing them correctly to minimize failures from the outset.
d) Seeking constructive feedback
e) Enhancing decision-making skills
f) Setting realistic expectations
By acknowledging the realities of failure and success, we can create more supportive environments—in workplaces, communities, and within ourselves—that foster genuine growth and achievement.
About the Author
Sanjeev K Yadav
Mr. Sanjeev is a seasoned yoga professional and consultant, specializing in applied yoga, human excellence, and psychology. With over ten years of experience as a health and well-being coach, yoga teacher, and psycho-yogic counselor, he seamlessly integrates traditional wisdom with modern insights. Currently pursuing his Ph.D. in yoga, he brings depth and innovation to his practice.
