The Complex Psychological Behavior of Procrastination

Whether you realize it or not, procrastination affects everyone to some degree. Some experience only minor problems associated with the complex psychological behavior of procrastination, while others battle considerable anxiety, stress and guilt. Fear of disapproval for not meeting deadlines and commitments can promote further this condition.

Extreme amounts of procrastination can increase personal crisis levels and contribute to severe loss of productivity. Habitual procrastination can impede normal functioning and may be a sign of an underlying psychological disorder.

Some consider procrastination as a side product of today's extremely busy schedules. Not true. In fact, the word procrastination has been around since 16th century and is only remotely related to time management. Most procrastinators know exactly how to manage a task to complete it on schedule, but are unable to cope with the anxiety associated with even getting started.

When the physiological roots of procrastination are researched by the medical and academic community, most of the focus is placed on the role of the prefrontal cortex. This area of the brain is responsible for brain functions such as attention and impulse control. The prefrontal cortex acts as a filter by decreasing stimuli from other brain regions that can result in distractions which ultimately produces poorer organizational skills and loss of attention.

The exact psychological causes of procrastination vary greatly, but generally surround issues of low sense of self-worth and a self-defeating mentality. Procrastinators are also thought to have a lower than normal level of conscientiousness based more on "dreams" and "wishes" of perfection rather than a realistic appreciation of their obligations.

In the past, procrastination has been closely associated with perfectionism, which is a tendency to negatively predict or evaluate the outcome of one's own performance. In contrast, adaptive perfectionist (acceptable to needs/goals of the ego) are less likely to procrastinate than maladaptive perfectionist (thoughts/behaviors in conflict with the ego).

Due to the social stigma and profound misunderstanding surrounding extreme forms of procrastination, many with this condition suffer in silence and have great difficulty in seeking help or finding an understanding source of support.