Deep Dive: What Is Victim Mentality

Examples, causes, how to deal with it, and manage others.

“He’s useless. My career goes nowhere because of him!”

I spoke with a friend the other day. She complained about her boss. She felt stuck in her job because of no management support. She was frustrated and stressed.

What was happening? She wanted me to agree with her and played a ‘poor me’ card. She is a lovely person, but is her career really stuck? I don’t think so.

Yet people with a victim mindset like stripping responsibility off their shoulders. It is easier to talk about things happening to you instead of taking an active role at work and in your life.

Let’s see why.

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Content:

• What is a victim mentality?

• Why do people act like victims?

• Typical signs

• Influence of company culture

• Effect on the team

• How to stop being the victim

• How to manage people with victim mentalities

• Wrapping up

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What is a victim mentality?

No one is born a victim. It is learned.

For many people, this state of mind is developed as a response to what happened to them. You might have experienced a robbery or been bullied at work. Life has many difficult moments. You choose how you deal with them.

Is it better to be a victim or not?

Victim mentality is a defense mechanism. People feel they have no control over the problems or situations they experience. They blame others. It might be the fault of your partner, family, co-workers, friends, teachers, robbers, etc.

Victim mentality can be a product of violence and trauma. It is wise to seek psychological help and learn to deal with the roots and emotions that come with such a terrible experience.

Yet, victim mentality can also come out of corporate 'laziness', lack of responsibility, or even an attempt to manipulate. Healthy (work) relationships cannot depend on making others ‘bad’ or '‘guilty’.

Think about where it comes from. That is how you can help yourself and others the right way.

Why do people act like victims?