Is it just me, or does everyone seem to be a victim these days? Even White males are now claiming to be persecuted. The problem with having a victim mentality is that it fosters depression. Is it any wonder that depression rates are skyrocketing?
Why would feeling like a victim result in depression?
Being a victim is a powerless, one-down position. Feeling powerless can lead to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness and can lead to depression. I think this may be one of the reasons why Americans have an ever increasing rate of depression.
"Failure is not falling down, it is staying down."
In the therapeutic community we actively worked to change the word "victim" to "survivor". I'm not much of one to embrace politically correct semantics, but I think this change of terms was actually useful. "Victim" is a word of powerlessness. Survivors have power. They fight back. They take responsibility for their lives and their mental health. They survive. Victims do not fight back. Victims do not effect change. Victims continue to be re-victimized if they stay locked in the victim role. And I have to wonder why people want to identify with the victim role. I believe most people with serious problems don't play the victim card. They are too busy taking care of business. See "People with Real Problems..."
So why the preponderance of victims? I'm no expert on economic systems, but from what I understand Capitalism seems to be "hitting the fan" according to University of Massachusetts Economics Professor Richard Wolff. If that's true, and it seems likely it is, people may need an explanation for why they are not able to succeed as their parents did. They are playing by the same rules but not getting the same results. If we measure success in this country by how much stuff you own then success is becoming more and more difficult. As success becomes less and less attainable people need explanations for their failures. Not being economics experts, they look inside themselves.
Instead of feeling like failures, playing the victim card or getting depressed, perhaps we need to redefine what it means to be a success in this country.
See also, "America's Abuse Syndrome"
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