Ergophobia
Encyclopedia
Ergophobia also called Ergasiophobia, is an abnormal and persistent fear
(or phobia
) of work
, finding work
or functioning, ergophobia may also be a subset of either social phobia
or performance anxiety. Sufferers of ergophobia experience undue anxiety about the workplace environment even though they realize their fear is irrational. Their fear may actually be a combination of fears, such fear of failing at assigned tasks, fear of speaking before groups at work (both of which are types of performance anxiety), or fear of socializing with co-workers (a type of social phobia
).
"Ergophobia" is derived from the Greek
"ergon" (work) and "phobos" (fear). "Ergo" is also used to form other English words, including "ergometer
" (a device that measures the amount of work done by muscles) and "ergonomics
" (an applied science that designs interfaces and working environments with the aim of maximizing functionality and improving worker comfort).
Fear
Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...
(or phobia
Phobia
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder, usually defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer commits to great lengths in avoiding, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed, often being recognized as irrational...
) of work
Manual labour
Manual labour , manual or manual work is physical work done by people, most especially in contrast to that done by machines, and also to that done by working animals...
, finding work
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
or functioning, ergophobia may also be a subset of either social phobia
Social phobia
Social phobia may refer to any of the following conditions:* Social anxiety disorder – a diagnosis referring to clinically excessive social anxiety...
or performance anxiety. Sufferers of ergophobia experience undue anxiety about the workplace environment even though they realize their fear is irrational. Their fear may actually be a combination of fears, such fear of failing at assigned tasks, fear of speaking before groups at work (both of which are types of performance anxiety), or fear of socializing with co-workers (a type of social phobia
Social phobia
Social phobia may refer to any of the following conditions:* Social anxiety disorder – a diagnosis referring to clinically excessive social anxiety...
).
"Ergophobia" is derived from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
"ergon" (work) and "phobos" (fear). "Ergo" is also used to form other English words, including "ergometer
Ergometer
Ergometer may refer to:*Exercise machine, equipped with an apparatus for measuring the work performed by exercising*Indoor rower, called an ergometer by rowers* An instrument for measuring the amount of work done by human muscles...
" (a device that measures the amount of work done by muscles) and "ergonomics
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, its movements, and its cognitive abilities.The International Ergonomics Association defines ergonomics as follows:...
" (an applied science that designs interfaces and working environments with the aim of maximizing functionality and improving worker comfort).