Cooked Frog Syndrome: Inability To Respond To Subtle Abuse

The cooked frog has spent all of its energy adapting to circumstances and when the critical moment arrives, it no longer has the strength to protect oneself from danger.

Cooked Frog Syndrome refers to the emotional wear and tear generated when we find ourselves locked into situations from which we believe it is impossible to escape. We put up with them, until we come out completely “burnt out”.

Little by little, we put ourselves in a vicious circle that deteriorates us mentally and emotionally, to the point of leaving us without strength.

It is Olivier Clerc, a French writer and philosopher who explained, in simple, precise and illustrative language, the famous fable of the “cooked frog”. Let’s take a closer look at what it is and how we can apply its teachings.

The cooked frog, the frog that has spent its strength badly

The fable is based on an actual physical law which says. “If the water heating rate is less than 0.02 ºC / minute, the frog does not move and eventually dies at the end of cooking. At higher speed, the frog jumps and escapes ”.

So, as Olivier Clerc explains, if we put a frog in a container of water and start heating up little by little, the frog will gradually adjust its body temperature.

When the water comes to its boiling point, the frog can no longer adjust its temperature.

So she tries to jump. Unfortunately, the frog is no longer able to do this. Because she has spent her strength badly by systematically adjusting her temperature and she no longer has the energy she needs to escape.

As a result, the frog dies cooked without doing anything to jump or run away. 

Now we have to think about what really killed the frog. Is it boiling water or her inability to decide when she should have jumped?

If we had dipped it in a pot of water at 50 ° C, it would have jumped on its own in order to save her skin.

But, while she tolerated the temperature rise, she didn’t think she could and should get out of here. 

The silent deterioration that makes us pretend all is well

When emotional deterioration is very slow, it goes unnoticed, even for ourselves.

This justifies that we do not react, that we do not oppose. We end up choking, because we breathe toxic air that poisons us little by little.

When a change takes place slowly enough, it escapes consciousness. It therefore provokes no reaction or opposition.

Thus, it is usual to be a victim of the baked frog syndrome in certain couple relationships, at work, in the family, with friends or even at the macro-social level.

When addiction, pride, selfishness or demands appear in a trickle, it is difficult for us to realize what is harmful, and that it can make us stagnate or even destroy us.

We may even feel pleasure that our partner needs us at all times. May our leader trust us and give us tasks. Or that our best friend asks us for our attention all the time.

However, over time the demands reduce our ability to react and respond. Making us exhaust our strength and ability to see that this is not a healthy relationship at all.

This silent adaptation process deteriorates us and takes control of our lives, little by little, in subtle ways.

This prevents us from being aware and preparing to give an answer that would truly suit our needs.

This is why it is essential to make a conscious effort to keep our eyes open and assess what we want. This is the only way we can remove value from what damages our faculties.

We can only grow taller if we are willing to feel uncomfortable for a while.

Because getting started and asserting our rights is something that doesn’t always please those around us. Since they live by being used to what we conform to and our change in attitude is not pleasant for them.

Remember that sometimes a “enough!” will help you ensure your emotional well-being. And thus to safeguard your self-esteem, your dignity and your interests.

Keep in mind the fable of the baked frog and avoid consuming yourself in a pain that can be avoided in time.

Bibliographic reference: Clerc, Olivier (2007). The frog that did not know it was cooked … and other lessons in life, JC Lattès, 2005