People often fear being judged for leaving jobs they were once passionate about, but new research from Cornell’s ILR School shows those fears are usually exaggerated, according to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Others tend to view quitting more positively, seeing it as a step toward pursuing a better fit elsewhere.
Across seven studies, researchers found that individuals overestimate how harshly they’ll be judged for leaving passion-driven jobs—especially when burnout or waning interest is the reason. In contrast, financial or family-related exits are judged less critically.
An intervention study with teachers showed that simply telling people their fears of judgment are likely overblown led to greater openness about exploring new career paths and quitting. The takeaway: quitting can be healthy, and perceptions of judgment rarely match reality.
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