The "mentality of Victimhood" and how it negatively affects people

[alhoon]

Dartmouth Scar Experiment:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/b...nvisible-scars

https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/07/n...-problems.html

The gist: "In this study, female participants were led to believe they had a facial scar applied with makeup. Unbeknownst to them, the scar was removed before they interacted with others. Despite having no actual scar, participants reported perceiving discrimination and negative reactions from others, including some reporting how the interviewer mentioned the (non-existing) scar on their face, highlighting how self-perception can influence interpretations of social interactions."

While the study and analysis touches on a lot of interesting issue, this is IMO an important part that gets overlooked by many of those that try to help minorities deal with discrimination:
The women expected to be discriminated against, and saw signs of discrimination when there was none. Furthermore, the self-limiting perception led to them interacting differently with others and practically sabotaging themselves.

My point, is mentioned in the psychology article as: "The self-limiting mentality is a mindset in which individuals see themselves as perpetual victims of circumstance."
I.e.
People the Progressives "train" to see themselves as victims, will behave like victims and interpret things as discrimination.

There is racism and systemic racism, but telling minorities full time they will be discriminated against, actually stunts them. It doesn't help with the racism, it simply creates angry groups that see windmills as giants.

Now, do I have the answer? Where the "balance" is?
Eh... nope. As the Psychology article states, there are some that react one way and others that react a different way, and obviously there are those in-between. And as mentioned, yes, there is discrimination and it should be addressed.
Keep in mind, I do not suggest re-education camps for the Whites (the "Sensitivity training" things - the bonkers ones not the reasonable ones that actually do the job).

What I think is that progressives that scream about discrimination and keep blasting 24/7 to minorities that they are victims of circumstance, are doing them a disservice and should take a step back. Not stop. But perhaps do that 8/5 instead of 24/7.

What do you think?

EDIT: OK, I talked about progressives, but let's not forget that a lot of conservatives and alt-rights in Europe are trying to instill victim mentality to their own electorate to pull them further right and disconnect them from the "legacy media" etc.
It is not just the progressives.

[Sir Adrian]

Very interesting stuff.

[Love Mountain]

EDIT: OK, I talked about progressives, but let's not forget that a lot of conservatives and alt-rights in Europe are trying to instill victim mentality to their own electorate to pull them further right and disconnect them from the "legacy media" etc.
It is not just the progressives.

Imagine trying to apply this label to the Civil Rights Movement.

You might say, "but they were actually victims", but it goes to your point.

"What I think is that progressives that scream about discrimination and keep blasting 24/7 to minorities that they are victims of circumstance, are doing them a disservice and should take a step back. Not stop. But perhaps do that 8/5 instead of 24/7."

The only way you can achieve some action, is if you actually do a call to action... non-stop... 24/7.

[alhoon]

The only way you can achieve some action, is if you actually do a call to action... non-stop... 24/7.

And I disagree, because this instills victim mentality with black kids being told they are set up to fail, so they often try less or are less motivated because "why try when you can't succeed?" etc. The victim mentality hurts the victim.
Furthermore, it creates tensions that are actually harmful to society. In black majority schools, the few white kids are often bullied much worse than black kids in white majority schools. And that is because a few black kids in each class believe white people are the enemy.

[Sir Adrian]

\
The only way you can achieve some action, is if you actually do a call to action... non-stop... 24/7.

Not true at all. The way you can achieve some action if you change people's perception subtlety and quietly over time until they think it was their idea to begin with.

Screaming and calling everyone racist/bigoted/etc and demanding special treatment/behaving obnoxiously will only radicalise people who weren't originally racist/bigoted/etc.


If you want to defeat racism the first step is to remove the word race from the vocabulary and let go of the past.

[Frank Olson]

The problem is that encouraging individuals, especially minorities, only reinforces the expectation of discrimination and is actually a self-fulfilling prophecy. Discrimination really exists and it needs to be treated. When people are constantly victimized, it creates negative attitudes in their minds and only increases their anger. I think it can help if you create a balance: make people aware of this discrimination, but not so much that they feel constantly oppressed.Also, as you point out, this issue is not about one political ideology; it crosses the spectrum, with different groups possibly promoting a victim mentality to advance agendas. The focus should be on resilience, empowerment and balanced awareness, not constant messages of victimization.

[NorseThing]

Alfoon: snip (What I think is that progressives that scream about discrimination and keep blasting 24/7 to minorities that they are victims of circumstance, are doing them a disservice and should take a step back. Not stop. But perhaps do that 8/5 instead of 24/7.)

But the point of the Psychology Today article is that the solution has to be internal for each individual and accepts that outside influences are always present. You seem to want to put the burden back on the outside influences. I have no problem with the article. I do have a problem with fixing the world when internal solutions are more practical. I grant you that your point is also correct. Just do not see a realistic solution coming from your point.