Discovery: In the ever-evolving landscape of human psychology and anthropology, some phenomena continue to elude widespread recognition until someone experiences an ah-ha moment of discovery, precisely as I did. One such phenomenon is the VIP Syndrome.
VIP Syndrome is a term my husband and I made up over a decade ago when I began journaling about my experiences as a Las Vegas waitress and documenting food-related stories about bad-behaving customers. We mouthed the words “VIP Syndrome” one day out of thin air, and it stuck. We describe it as “the signs and symptoms of a particular behavioral disorder that many ordinary and privileged people develop and exhibit that usually consists of delusional self-importance accompanied by bad behavior, unrealistic expectations, and outrageous demands.” Other signs include “failing to follow basic rules of common courtesy and feeling that rules don’t apply.” Also, those suffering from VIP Syndrome exhibit low frustration levels and are often impatient.
When beginning my manuscript for Diary Of A Las Vegas Waitress in 2018, my husband and I searched the internet for any evidence or existence of the term VIP Syndrome. Not finding any meaningful results, we thought we had come up with a new idea, term, and concept. But we recently learned that new discoveries, more often than not, can be rediscoveries.
Rediscovery: After publishing my book in November 2023, the unfamiliar and uncomfortable action of self-promotion and marketing became the next phase of my journey as a new author. Social media has become the leading tool in marketing. Thus, hash-tagging on TikTok, Facebook, X (formally Twitter), and YouTube has become an arduous learning experience. Getting indexed on Google and showing up on search results can make or break visibility to potential customers.
After much effort in creating a website and the necessary social media posts to get the word out about my book, I began to perform Google keyword searches relating to the topics I write about. I was happy to see my website and social media posts indexed and searchable on Google. Then, to my shock and dismay, there they were: Google results about VIP Syndrome unrelated to my posts. Was it an algorithm that prevented me from seeing this before? Why now? Was it my book, its keywords, and posts, listing the hashtag #VIPSYNDROME, that suddenly caused a resurgence of the term and allowed these results to appear on my computer screen?
Discovery, Rediscovery, and Reimagined Application: As I know now, the curious aspect of VIP Syndrome is not a novel term. Coined in 1964 by Dr. Walter Weintraub; he defined it as “the tendency of some physicians to provide special privileges to a patent because of their status or wealth” (Apodaca Schlossberg, 2020). The syndrome is prevalent in fields such as medicine, where doctors may alter their behavior when treating high-profile patients, or in business, where executives may receive preferential treatment due to their status. Despite this existing knowledge, the phenomenon often experiences periodic “rediscoveries” with similar meaning when a new generation of researchers, professionals, or someone from the general public, like me, becomes aware of its implications. It’s as if, with each revelation, the syndrome is perceived as a novel discovery, even though its roots are firmly embedded in the annals of psychology, sociology, and anthropology.
While, at first, I felt flabbergasted that the term already existed, in retrospect, it makes sense that such an idea has been contemplated before, albeit described and used differently than how I use it. You see, I describe the term VIP Syndrome as a condition that affects the VIP or an ordinary person who wants to be seen as a VIP, and not the people who must treat or serve the VIP as described by Dr. Weintraub. With that difference in mind, I feel my concept remains organic, original, and authentic. My initial feelings of disappointment have been replaced with the affirmation that my idea is rooted in science and, thereby, more credible when applied within the context of my book. Recognizing the existence of VIP Syndrome is the first step toward mitigating its effects, as outlined in my book, and is crucial in fostering a more just and balanced society.
Works Cited
Apodaca Schlossberg, J. (2020, October 13). Let’s talk about “VIP syndrome.” UCLA Health. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/lets-talk-about-vip-syndrome
