Word of the Year: Goblin Mode

Given all the stress and hardships of 2022, “Goblin Mode” was recently chosen by Oxford University Press as their new word (or in this case, expression) of the year.

Goblin Mode isn’t so much a phrase as a zeitgeist, as in “I stayed in bed all weekend, in full Goblin Mode” or using #GoblinMode as a retort to social media posts that seem too perfect to be believed.  The Oxford University Dictionary describes Goblin Mode as “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.”

”A type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.”

Dave McNamee’s tweet about the phrase went viral early in 2022.  “Goblin mode is like when you wake up at 2am and shuffle into the kitchen wearing nothing but a long T-shirt to make a weird snack, like melted cheese on saltines…It’s about a complete lack of aesthetic.  Because why would a goblin care what they look like?  Why would a goblin care about presentation?”

We’ve all been there. Stressed or overwhelmed, sometimes we all need a little Goblin Mode in our lives. (I’m writing this while ignoring my kids, wearing an ancient cardigan, a scented candle burning on the table next to me and an alcoholic drink at my side.) The phrase gained a lot of traction as users posted it as a response to too-perfect social media posts that portrayed an unattainable ideal. Faced with pressure to look and act overly polished, it’s tempting to retreat to Goblin Mode as an antidote.

But designating it the word of the year? I think that’s a bit much. Look around – the results of too much Goblin Mode aren’t pretty.

Just ask Dr. Christine Porath, a professor of Management at Georgetown University, who studies antisocial behavior and has documented a huge uptick in rudeness over the past ten years. In 2022 - the year of “Goblin Mode” - nearly three quarters of frontline workers reported being on the receiving end of rude behavior from customers, up from 61% in 2012.  66% of workers today report noticing that rudeness has been increasing, versus fewer than half of workers sharing that view a decade ago.  “The pandemic, the economy, war, divisive politics, the changing nature of work, and continued uncertainty are all taking a toll,” Dr. Porath notes.

Goblin Mode is only satisfying up to a point. An hour of self-indulgence might help get you back on your feet, but as a long-term mindset Goblin Mode doesn’t work. Years of research backs this up: when faced with stress and uncertainty, adopting a mindset of action instead of one of dissipation is what makes us feel better.

Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, an Israeli psychologist who’s dedicated his life to what he calls “happiness studies,” has determined what maximizes our happiness and sense of wellbeing. Spoiler alert: Goblin Mode doesn’t make the list. “When we walk into a room with slumped shoulders, dragging our feet, or with our head down, we communicate lack of confidence and energy…When we walk like someone who is confident, we actually become more confident; the physical act of sitting up straight actually boosts our motivation and increases our energy…” Ben-Shahar writes.

Even the act of getting dressed up can improve our mood. That’s the verdict of Dr. Audrey Tang, a psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society. “Even just sitting up, standing up straight, standing tall and putting on something that you love that makes you feel good - that’s going to have an effect on our brains,” she notes. In other words, the opposite of Goblin Mode energizes us and has the capacity to get us out of a funk.

The Jewish sage Rabbi Dosa ben Harkinas observed 2,000 years ago that Goblin Mode is ultimately counterproductive. He was no stranger to stress. He lived through the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 CE and experienced the harrowing violence of Roman repression that followed. Rabbi Dosa warned that “Late morning sleep, midday wine, children’s chatter, and sitting at gatherings of the ignorant remove a person from the world” (Ethics of the Fathers 3:14).

With the prevalence of global and personal stresses, what we need today is the embracing of Courage Mode.

Withdrawing for a short period of time may help relieve some stress, but ultimately getting out of our comfort zone is more satisfying.

With the prevalence of global and personal stresses, what we need today is the embracing of Courage Mode. It’s not easy to get out of bed each morning and spend a whole day working, engaging with people, and doing our best. But withdrawing from the world doesn’t benefit anyone. It’s our active participation that stands a chance to make the world better.