Published in:INSEAD Working Paper ; No. 2023/03/EFE
Extent:
1 Online-Ressource (38 p)
Language:
English
DOI:
10.2139/ssrn.4343674
Identifier:
Origination:
Footnote:
Nach Informationen von SSRN wurde die ursprüngliche Fassung des Dokuments January 31, 2023 erstellt
Description:
This article deals with people’s sense of victimization, both on an individual and collective level. Starting with an example from Saul Bellow’s The Victim, it points out how contagiousness feelings of victimization can be as well as how demagogue-like, populist leaders take advantage of such feelings to manipulate a population. As a way of helping people understand the nature of victimization, this article goes on to explore the psychological profile of individuals who tend to feel victimized, also focusing on their early life experiences. In addition, the article deals with the question of how to go beyond victimhood, examining what can be done to transcend these feelings. On the individual level, one such avenue suggested is embarking on an inner journey that allows one to explore the origins of such self-limiting beliefs. As the article points out, a specific victimhood mindset often derives from conditioned perceptions built upon old memories that resulted in coping mechanisms that are no longer functional. From a collective point of view, it is suggested that people who feel victimized should come to terms with what has happened in the past by creating a culture of remembrance. The article notes that some form of conflict transition needs to occur as way of preventing the reoccurrence of ancient grievances