Abstract
This article examines the concept of burnout as it affects administrators of small college theatre programs and identifies the structural and psychological conditions that make these individuals particularly vulnerable. Burnout is defined as an emotional safeguard that emerges when the energy required to meet goal expectations exceeds an individual’s capacity, creating an imbalance between effort and perceived reward. Drawing on Freudenberger’s work and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the article argues that burnout develops when persistent striving toward unrealistic goals erodes the sense of self worth and shifts behavior from creative engagement to defensive self protection. The analysis explains how limited resources, high production demands, feelings of marginalization within institutions, and unrealistic external and self imposed expectations contribute to the progression from inspiration to desperation. It outlines the behavioral symptoms that signal the onset of burnout, including cynicism, social withdrawal, fatigue, and diminished concentration. The article attributes the fundamental cause of burnout to a persistent mismatch between expectations and attainable reality. It concludes with preventive strategies focused on interrupting patterns of overcommitment, assessing goals in relation to actual resources, and cultivating supportive professional communities to enhance shared recognition and mitigate the isolating effects of burnout.
Recommended Citation
File, David C.
(1985)
"Burnout Syndrome: Fighting the Battle Between Inspiration and Desperation,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 54, Article 25.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol54/iss1/25
