This particular disorder is so common within the bridge fraternities across the world that it seems incredible that the scale of the problem has yet to be recognised or acknowledged. Indeed if every bridge club was a ocean then it would be overrun with small insignificant fish, simply there for consumption of others.
These minnows are the Jonahs of the bridge world, who are swallowed whole ( time and time again ) by the predatory sharks and monster whales that lurk in the deep. As a result they quickly develop this rather disturbing complex. Thankfully, at the end of every session all the small fry players get ejected and spat out from the bellies of these deadly hunters.......only to return as fish fodder the next time they choose to enter the water.
The Jonah Complex is in effect an extreme type of inferiority complex, where victims ( just like Jonah in the biblical story ) see themselves as being fearful, inadequate, non-achieving players..................ordinary, humble, men and women of no significance, cursed and overwhelmed by their defeatist attitudes. The refuse to believe that it is possible to compete against heavy weight opponents, by adopting a mind set based on confidence, determination and measured aggression.
However, unlike Jonah who managed to fulfil God's wish and become a force to be reckoned with, these modern day Jonahs seem more than happy to keep on swimming against the tide, and straight into the mouths of those lying in wait . Their ability to be sucked in so easily has astounded my profession to such an extent, we feel that if bridge players read the bible more often they just might well see the error of their ways. The Jonah story is one of self-discovery after adversity. It should not be used as the basis for a psycho-analyst to seek out a suitable label for a very serious and distressing disorder.
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