RESEARCH_FILE
Depersonalization Glass Wall
The depersonalization glass wall describes the second dimension of Maslach's burnout model: the emergence of emotional detachment, cynicism, and a sense of going through the motions at work. It typically develops as a psychological shield after emotional exhaustion has set in — a way of protecting remaining resources by stopping emotional investment. The 'glass wall' captures the experience of watching your work and colleagues through a barrier, present physically but disengaged inside.
How it sounds in your head
The inner script: 'I just don't care about this job anymore — I must have never really been suited for it.' The research reframes the timing: depersonalization almost always follows emotional exhaustion, not the other way around. The glass wall isn't a revelation about who you are — it's a symptom of what has already been depleted.