Sharpeners vs. Levelers: A Lesser-Known Psychological Theory That May Explain How You're Processing the Election Results Today
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Sharpeners vs. Levelers
Waking up to a post-election world — especially one where your preferred candidate didn’t emerge victorious — can leave you feeling an overwhelming mix of emotions. If you’re grappling with disappointment, or even disbelief, part of what you’re feeling may actually stem from how well you anticipated the election's outcome.
Most of us understand that anticipation shapes emotional impact. Fewer are familiar with a cognitive theory that reveals a deeper level of this: the "Sharpeners vs. Levelers" phenomenon. This concept might be the key to understanding why some of us feel blindsided by unexpected results, while others, in the same situation, seem quicker to move on.
Knowing which type you are can help you process post-election (or any unexpected) results more smoothly.
Sharpeners vs. Levelers: The Spectrum of Cognitive Processing
The concept of Sharpeners vs. Levelers was first discussed by Klein & Schlesinger (1951). The theory describes two contrasting ways — sometimes referred to as cognitive styles — we engage with details and patterns in our environment:
Sharpeners have an acute focus on differences and unique details. They often vividly recall specifics and are attuned to subtle changes. If you’re someone who replays scenarios in precise detail or mentally revisits every twist in a storyline, you may be a sharpener. This focus is beneficial in tasks requiring meticulousness but can sometimes lead to heightened anticipatory anxiety.
Levelers, conversely, seek commonalities and smooth out differences to perceive a cohesive, big-picture view. Their memories are often organized around general patterns rather than specifics. This makes them adaptable and effective at synthesizing broad concepts but may leave them underprepared for nuanced emotional scenarios.
How These Styles Impact Big Events
Many have studied the concept and its implications since Klein’s original research (hi Dad!). Sharpeners, with their strong attention to detail, prepare for an event by imagining multiple scenarios in detail, including less favorable ones. This mental rehearsal can create anticipatory anxiety, but it also acts as a cushion: when the real results arrive, they’ve already “lived through” the possibilities, which can ease the eventual emotional adjustment.
Levelers, on the other hand, may experience less anxiety before and event because they avoid drilling down into specifics, instead focusing on overarching themes. This approach provides a sort of emotional buffer before the event but can mean that the reality of an undesirable outcome might feel more jarring afterward. The gap in preparation can lead to a longer processing time as they work to mentally reconstruct the specifics of a complex reality.
Implications for Coping and Emotional Processing
This contrast in cognitive styles means that sharpeners, through pre-event cognitive reappraisal (mentally reconfiguring one’s perspective), might adapt more quickly to actual disappointment. Their anticipatory processing allows them to transition from intense fixation to acceptance, making emotional resilience more accessible. The morning after the election, you might hear a sharpener say “I expected this and here’s why”. They may be no less-disappointed than a leveler but their ability to move past shock and denial toward acceptance may come quicker.
Levelers, having largely avoided the granular details, may find themselves less equipped for the emotional specificity that a loss brings. They may have had fewer moments of anxiety in the weeks and months preceding the election due to their inclination to simplify beforehand, but that may also mean they may struggle to make sense of a nuanced reality post-event. They may often experience more sustained unease or even regret as they process the outcome.
An Actionable Tip for Sharpeners and Levelers Alike
For Sharpeners: After a jarring or disappointing outcome, give yourself permission to pause before diving into the details. As someone who naturally focuses on specifics, it’s easy to get stuck replaying the nuances of what went wrong. Instead, try channeling your energy into a brief grounding activity that redirects your attention—whether it’s taking a walk, meditating, or journaling about the broader lessons learned. This “reset” can help keep you from getting too caught up in the specifics and support you in gradually moving forward.
For Levelers: When processing a disappointing event, your big-picture focus can sometimes leave you feeling adrift. After an upsetting outcome, it may be helpful to identify a couple of concrete takeaways. Take five minutes to jot down some specific thoughts about what went well, what could have gone differently, and how this might shape your outlook going forward. While your natural tendency might be to avoid these details, tackling them briefly and intentionally can provide closure, helping you recover a sense of stability.
By taking small, mindful steps based on your style, you can guide yourself through disappointment in a way that feels both natural and constructive.
Available Talent
Sales Talent: An old colleague currently on the hunt for commercial leadership positions at a startup or growth-stage B2B tech company. They just spent 5+ years as the SVP of Sales & Customer Success, where they oversaw 250% top line growth ($20M to $70M+) over that same period.
Message me if interested!
Personal Updates:
Not too much on the personal front to share this time around! I’m looking forward to a relative period of quiet (possibly up to four weeks without travel!) as the holiday season begins to take shape.
I’m getting LASEK surgery in early December which I’m very excited about and hope to spend some of my recovery time writing and planning for 2025.
That's it for this edition - please reach out if I can be at all helpful.
Be compassionate and intentional.