What joy do they get in this??

Question

Hi; I am a college student & I have seen this very peculiar thing ; one professor always tries to criticise other ones at their back or in front of other students ; Each professor tries to be the boss over other professors , isn't it ? I mean what joy do they get in this??

Answer 1

The university is a very competitive place, really cut-throat. Professors are constantly competing with each other for grants, and unfortunately, many of them need to promote themselves at the expense of others. That's where the bad-mouthing comes from. Although, in the more prestigious universities, you expect it to be not so blatant, much more subtle. By the way, it is the same in the private sector.  

Answer 2

Looking at it from a systems perspective, I see ambition, drive and competitive spirit getting out of balance.  Academic institutions, for professors, are often times cultures where professors have to prove that they're worthy of being "in the club" among the elite, privileged academicians.

Rather than promoting strengths the cultural emphasis is directed towards the professors' vulnerabilities, and reasons to not let them into "the club."  

Of course each individual responds to such an environment, based on each person's own character and level of wholeness or wellness.  But, most people, placed in such a culture, will eventually move into defensive behaviors, either to compete for a slot among the elite, or to maintain an "earned" image of being a member of the in-crowd - the tenured.  

Answer 3

It is maybe not joy that they get but it is human nature to relieve ourselves of bad feelings so if a professer is feeling intimidated by another's knowledge or influence (power) or he is just feeling inferior for another reason then he will feel better by making the other one seem less then perfect, and less amazing than himself.

It is human nature. Unfortunately I think many of us can fall into this trap of behaving like that and we might not even realise that we are hurting others because we are not feeling okay ourselves.. so that behaviour just acts as a mask to cover up our feelings of insecurity, insignificance or inferiority.

I'm sorry the truth sucks.

Answer 4

  if u really have guts then go n ask the same question 2 ur proffesor n get the doubt clarified ok

            IF U REALLY DO THI U WILL NEVER FEAR ABT SUM THG IN LIFE

             BE BRAVE ALL THE TIME n i hope u und std what i want 2 tell DONT DISSAPOINT OK TRY 2 UNDERTSD

Answer 5

I don't know if it is joy that they seek, but they may seek power or attract disciples.  However, you also have to realize that the college or university venue encourages competition as well as collegiality among professors.  I have found that they are all very much aware of how their colleagues view them and they joke about it to each other to their face, so don't be fooled into thinking you know any secrets.  Get to know your professors personally and you will find this out.  It is part of growing up.  You have to have a hard shell in life and be able to take criticism without taking it "personally".

Answer 6

That is very unprofessional. I have been in post-secondary for 7 years and I have only encountered this kind of behaviour once. It's not normal. That department has some serious issues. They're all just trying to make themselves look better than the rest, but really they are just making themselves look like idiots.