The Social Face of Burnout: Why Exhaustion is More Than Personal Weakness

Abstract

Burnout is frequently conceptualized as an individual problem, associated with a lack of resilience or difficulties in managing stress. This article proposes an alternative perspective, framing burnout as a social phenomenon generated and sustained by structural, cultural, and organizational factors. Drawing from the World Health Organization’s definition, social mechanisms that contribute to the normalization of psychological exhaustion—such as performance culture, internalized pressure, and dysfunctional work organization—are analyzed. The limitations of interventions focused solely on the individual are discussed, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift in understanding and preventing burnout with an emphasis on collective and organizational responsibility.