Burnout. Soziales Leiden an Wachstum und Wettbewerb

From a sociological perspective, burnout is a form of social distress in which societal problems, especially those of modern professional life, manifest themselves. As a work-related exhaustion syndrome, the causes of burnout are to be found in the demands for high commitment, strong identification with work, self-responsibility, and self-organisation. In the article the late-modern competitive society is analysed as a social order that creates exhaustion syndromes by forcing the individuals into the constant concern for their ability to perform and compete. Burnout can be understood as the subjective part of a growth regime in crisis and therefore also as the beginning of social change. The public debate on burnout might contribute to a new capitalist order of justification that promises a more sustainable and considerate use of subjective resources.