Acting like a victim is worse than actually becoming a victim.
Victim mentality isn’t a new idea or epidemic, relatively speaking. Unfortunately, it’s an idea that’s been popular over the last few decades, and several people have taken advantage of it. The fact is that possessing a victim mentality is harmful to the individual and to those around them. Claiming to be a victim based on one’s race, religion, or other factors that appear enticing to people is a bad habit, not to mention a serious lapse in judgment. Claiming victimhood when one has suffered little to no real harm at the hands of others is also incredibly irresponsible, and in some cases has been used to make certain that those claiming victimhood are ridiculed and called out for their behavior.
Here are ten reasons why victim mentality is harmful.
10. It negates the need to take personal responsibility
Owning up to something that makes a person look incredibly stupid, negligent, or even unwise isn’t a popular trend. In fact, it doesn’t feel as though it’s ever been popular in any society. But the amount of personal growth that comes from taking responsibility for one’s own actions is tremendous. Now if only enough people would look at it in this light.
9. Acting like a victim shows a lack of personal development
Amazingly, a lot of adults today don’t appear ready and willing to take the blame for the choices they’ve made. Sadly, this means that they missed the bus, so to speak, when it came to learning how to accept the consequences of their own decisions. It could be that no one taught them what personal responsibility meant when they were young or held them accountable. The truly sad part is that it means that individuals who suffer from a victim mentality need to fabricate a situation that allows them to be pitied.
8. The act mocks those who have been seriously victimized
When too many people cry about being a victim it becomes increasingly difficult to take anyone at their word, even those who truly are victims. This could be seen during the MeToo and TimesUp movements. It could also be seen when BLM started with their own cries of inequality and racism. The sad truth is that there are real victims in this world and their needs should be taken into account when helping them to deal with real issues. Sadly, those who want attention and seek it by becoming professional victims make it difficult to trust anyone.
7. You’re allowing yourself to be helpless
So many people speak of empowerment in this day and age that it’s confusing to think of why anyone would want to be a victim. Some will claim that they’re not attempting to be the victim, that they’ve been truly maligned in some way. But the truth behind a victim mentality is that it’s giving up control of your life, at least in one aspect, to admit that you’re no longer in full control of your life.
6. A person admits that they are weak when playing the victim
The moment that a person expresses the need to be seen as a victim in any way, it’s a sign that, mentally, perhaps even emotionally, they are exceedingly weak. No one actively wants to be seen in this light unless it benefits them. However, the act of conforming to victim mentality implies a weakness of character that many people have exhibited over the last decade in many obvious ways. In all honesty, being weak isn’t something humans can avoid, since everyone has a flaw or two. But choosing to appear weak in this manner is an odd habit.
5. The possibility of harming others is very high
The person claiming to be the victim isn’t the only one that stands to be harmed by such behavior. Those who depend on them, or those they depend on, and those who are associated with them are bound to be judged by others simply due to their association. While this isn’t the worst thing that can happen with a victim mentality, it’s unfair without any doubt to those who know and support these individuals.
4. It’s hard to respect someone who plays the victim
There are genuine victims in this world, and this is unfortunate since real victims deal with real problems. Unfortunately, those who need the added attention, or think they do, will lay claim to victimhood while hiding away from responsibility, thereby confusing people when it comes to determining who deserves help and who needs to help themselves.
3. When used on social media, victim mentality gets worse
Trying to get people to turn their backs on social media is like getting folks to stop looking at a car wreck on the freeway. Unfortunately, the moment that someone cries wolf online, there are hundreds to thousands of people willing to believe their lies. The idea of being a victim online is too enticing for a lot of people, as has already been proved many times.
2. There’s no self-respect involved
All one has to do when seeking out those who use the victim mentality is to look on YouTube and other platforms. There are plenty of individuals who will give their hard luck stories to millions of people to see who might bite. The sad part is that these people will end up being granted donations and will make more in a day, sometimes, than many people who actually work for their money. The point is that there’s no need to have self-respect when one can fool a mass number of people and ask for money because of their victimhood.
1. It’s a very narcissistic act
The victim mentality is one that gets confused with actual victimhood all the time. But the truth of it is that real victims will try to move forward. Those with the victim mentality will slog through the emotional and mental muck in front of the camera and where people can hear them, but will usually do just fine once they’ve attained the notoriety they want. This type of narcissistic behavior is sick to be certain, but it’s been normalized in a lot of ways over the years. The bottom line is that people want attention, and will do anything to get it sometimes.
WTR? (Why’s That Radass?)
Victimhood is very real and those who genuinely suffer need help if they’re willing to receive it. But those who want the spotlight and will play the victim to get it need help of a different kind. The fact is that being a victim is not truly desired by anyone unless they want to be the center of attention and are willing to give up their self-respect. Stay classy Radassers, and help those who are truly in need.
