Characterized by excessive restraint, regulation, or management. This implies a degree of control that goes beyond what is necessary or healthy, often resulting in stifled spontaneity, creativity, or emotional expression. It suggests a rigid adherence to rules, procedures, or expectations, which can lead to inflexibility and an inability to adapt to changing circumstances. The behavior often stems from a desire for predictability, a fear of losing control, or a need to maintain a specific image or standard. Individuals or systems exhibiting overcontrol often prioritize order and precision, sometimes at the expense of human connection and natural flow. This can manifest in micromanagement, obsessive planning, or a lack of trust in others' abilities. The term applies to individuals, organizations, and even inanimate objects that are subject to excessive regulation.
Overcontrolled meaning with examples
- The project manager's overcontrolled approach, with constant revisions and approvals, ultimately stifled innovation and slowed down the team's progress. Everyone was afraid to take risks or suggest alternative solutions because they'd be shot down instantly. This made the environment very rigid and ultimately hurt the product we delivered. The team wanted to feel like they were actually helping.
- Sarah's overcontrolled eating habits, driven by a deep-seated fear of gaining weight, led to a restrictive diet and intense anxiety around food. While she was happy with her figure, she was unable to enjoy herself at any social function and couldn't eat out in restaurants because of her stringent food regulations. This also lead her to have an unhealthy relationship with her own body and feelings.
- The government's overcontrolled economy, with excessive regulations and bureaucracy, hampered entrepreneurship and economic growth. The new taxes took away any incentive that people had. Any company that attempted to grow was met with instant bureaucracy from a company that just wanted more control. This stunted progress and made them feel demoralized.
- The robotic factory, with its overcontrolled automation, while efficient in production, lacked the adaptability to handle unexpected variations in product design or market demand. Because all the product was run by machines with rigid parameters, any change to a product required weeks of alterations to the machinery. This meant we lost out on market trends and became less agile.
- His overcontrolled personality, where every decision was meticulously planned and every interaction scripted, made him appear distant and inauthentic. He never truly relaxed and just spent his time acting as if he was the perfect, emotionless being. People saw this as being disingenuous and he had difficulty forming lasting relationships because he struggled with spontaneity.