Victim mentality is an acquired (learned) personality trait in which a person tends to regard him or herself as a victim of the negative actions of others, and to think, speak and act as if that were the case — even in the absence of clear evidence. It depends on habitual thought processes and attribution. A victim mentality may manifest itself in a range of different behaviors or ways of thinking and talking: Blaming others for a situation that one has created oneself or significantly contributed to. Failing or being unwilling to take responsibility for ones own actions or actions to which one has contributed or for taking action to ameliorate the situation. Ascribing non-existent negative intentions to other people (similar to paranoia). Believing that other people are generally or fundamentally luckier and happier (Why me?). Gaining short-term pleasure from feeling sorry for oneself or eliciting pity from others. Eliciting sympathy by telling exaggerated stories about bad deeds of other people (e.g. during gossip). Since victim mentality is primarily learned and not inborn, it is possible to change it. A change in attitude may be provoked by an extraordinary situation or crisis. Since rejecting suggestions is a general characteristic feature of victim mentality, a person with victim mentality will generally not respond positively to everyday attempts by another person to draw attention to the problem and its possible solution. For this reason, the condition may become chronic.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 14:35:44 +0000