Burnout

A Burning Confession (2015)

Studio 2

This video art hopes to challenge what is considered art. It aims to express emotions that are otherwise brushed under the carpet. Therefore, I have used art as a tool for forcing the audience to listen (as they would have to out of respect; if I were to say it otherwise, it would be ignored or invalidated, or simply perceived as exaggeration).

The video is shot almost like a blog (inspired by Youngman), continuing with the style of work from the previous term. Hopefully, this makes the experience more personal for the viewer, as if I am conversing with them, and posing questions towards them. The questions raised are concerning art education: it does not accommodate for artist block, how should the wok be judged if art is subjective etc.

The Evident Burnout (2015)

Studio 2
The Evident Burnout (2015)

The Evident Burnout (2015)

For this piece, I decided to complete Freudenberger’s Burnout Questionnaire. The results are displayed because they were interesting; I was on the border of being dangerously burnt out.

Considering this result and the information that I have researched about artist block, it would not be surprising if the burnout has induced lack of engagement with my art practice.

Herbert Freudenberger & Gail North

Artist Influences

12 phases of burnout

These psychologists identified 12 phases in the burnout process, which are not all experienced in sequence or all experienced to be considered burnout.

  1. The Compulsion to Prove Oneself: obsessively demonstrating worth, usually tends best employees (enthusiastic and who readily accept responsibility).
  2. Working Harder:unable switch off.
  3. Neglecting Their Needs: irregular eating and sleep pattern, lack of social interaction.
  4. Displacement of Conflicts:dismiss problems, feelings of threat, panic and jitter.
  5. Revision of Values:distorted values focusing only on work, neglect friends and family, hobbies seen as irrelevant.
  6. Denial of Emerging Problem:social interaction is difficult; they become intolerant and perceived as sarcastic.
  7. Withdrawal:small/non-existent social life, consider drugs to relief stress.
  8. Odd Behavioural Changes:changes in behaviour obvious, friends and family concerned.
  9. Depersonalisation:self and others are perceived as invaluable, own need disregarded.
  10. Inner Emptiness:void inside is compensated for with overeating, sex, alcohol, drugs.
  11. Depression:feel lost and unsure, exhausted.
  12. Burnout Syndrome:can include total mental and physical collapse, full medical attention needed.

This was interesting, because I felt I could relate to many, if not all, of these points.

Burnout: Maslach, Schaufeli, & Leiter

Artist Influences

Job burnout

Burnout is measured using three terms: exhaustion, depersonalisation (cynicism), inefficacy.

‘Exhaustion is not…simply experienced—rather, it prompts actions to distance oneself emotionally and cognitively from one’s work, presumably as a way to cope with the work overload…Overwhelming demands that contribute to exhaustion or cynicism is likely to erode one’s sense of effectiveness. Further, exhaustion or depersonalization interfere with effectiveness: It is difficult to gain a sense of accomplishment when feeling exhausted or when helping people toward whom one is indifferent.’

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is used to measure burnout. Research using this tool suggests that burnout is related to anxiety and depression. However, research has differentiated the problems by suggesting that burnout is related to work specific, whereas depression usually affects personal life also.

Maslach & Schaufeli (1993) conceptualised burnout using five common elements:

  1. Dysphoric symptoms such as mental or emotional exhaustion, fatigue, and depression dominate.
  2. Mental and behavioural symptoms are more prominent than physical ones.
  3. Burnout symptoms are work-related.
  4. Symptoms occur in “normal” persons who did not previously suffer from psychopathology.
  5. Negative attitudes and behvaviours lead to decreased effectiveness and work performance.

Two theories for who experiences burnout:

  1. Best and most idealistic workers are most likely to experience burnout – ‘you have to have been on fire in order to burnout’.
  2. Continual exposure to chronic job stressors leads to burnout – it occurs later in the career rather than earlier.

Generally believed that burnout is a response to overload, especially in terms of exhaustion. So what started out as pleasant and fulfilling becomes unpleasant, unfulfilling and meaningless. Enegery becomes exhaustion, involvement becomes cynicism, and efficacy turns in to ineffectiveness.

Maslach, Christina, Wilmar B. Schaufeli, and Michael P. Leiter. “Job burnout.”Annual review of psychology 52, no. 1 (2001): 397-422.

Burnout: Zis Panagiotis, Fotios Anagnostopoulos, and Panagiota Sykioti

Artist Influences

Burnout in Medical Residents: A Study Based on the Job Demands-Resources Model.

‘Burnout is a prolonged response to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors on the job and is defined by the three dimensions of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (cynicism), and reduced personal accomplishment (feelings of inefficacy) [8]. Emotional exhaustion (EE) refers to feelings of being overextended and depleted of one’s emotional resources. Depersonalisation (DP) is characterised by a negative, cynical, and detached response to other people, including colleagues and patients or clients. A reduction in personal accomplishment (PA) occurs when a person feels less competent in his or her work [9].’

‘Burnout can be present irrespective of the type of profession.’

The study found that demands (time pressure, increased workload) are more predictive of burnout than resources. Burnout was significantly related to opportunities for professional development, autonomy, and home-work pressures.

Zis, Panagiotis, Fotios Anagnostopoulos, and Panagiota Sykioti. “Burnout in Medical Residents: A Study Based on the Job Demands-Resources Model.”The Scientific World Journal 2014 (2014).