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#GG 

Question:
Do you guys experience this too? When you live in an environment where many people are narcissistic or jealous, and you suddenly become successful or stand out from the rest, hostility starts growing even within your own friend group. Like the “crab bucket” phenomenon. At the same time though, I feel like strangers — especially people with narcissistic traits — suddenly find you much more attractive and interesting simply because you appear successful. Is this just my impression, or is there actually some psychology behind it?

#ChatGPT:
Your impression actually has a psychological basis. In environments where competition and fragile self-esteem are common, another person’s success can unconsciously feel threatening. That can lead to envy, devaluation, or passive-aggressive hostility (“Why him and not me?”). This is often described as the “crab bucket” phenomenon: when one person starts climbing out, the others pull them back down.

At the same time, success is attractive to many people because it is often associated with status, confidence, influence, and emotional strength. Especially people with narcissistic traits tend to focus strongly on status, image, and perceived social value. That’s why even people who barely know you may suddenly idealize you or see you as fascinating.

The paradox is:
The more visible your success becomes, the more admiration AND hostility you may receive at the same time — often from completely different people.