Exploring the Crabs in the Barrel Syndrome in Organizations

This article examines the existence of the crabs in the barrel syndrome (CBS) in organizational settings, as well as the affiliated intragroup, intergroup, and organizational dynamics. CBS is a metaphoric representation that describes the mentality and behaviors of in-group members that violate prescribed social norms of helping and support. Two qualitative studies are juxtaposed to capture the essence of CBS and associated socially complex issues that thrive in hypercompetitive and politicized work environments, resulting in negative collective and individual outcomes. This study provides a working definition of CBS and encourages further exploration of the phenomenon