Victim playing

Victim playing (also known as playing the victim, victim card or self-victimization) is the fabrication or exaggeration of victimhood for a variety of reasons such as to justify abuse of others, to manipulate others, a coping strategy, or for attention seeking.

Definition and Concept

Victim playing is a type of manipulation where an individual presents themselves as a victim of the negative actions of others, seeking to evoke sympathy from others in order to gain attention, avoid responsibility, or achieve a specific outcome. This behavior is common in personality disorders, particularly narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Psychology

From a psychological perspective, playing the victim can be a defense mechanism that people use to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. It can also be a strategy used to manipulate others into feeling sorry for them and providing them with attention or assistance.

In Society

In society, victim playing is a common strategy in politics and media, where it can be used to generate public sympathy or support for a cause or individual. It is also prevalent in workplace bullying, where it can be used as a means of gaining power and control over others.

Criticism

Critics argue that victim playing can be harmful as it can enable abusive behavior and create a culture of blame and victim blaming. It can also prevent individuals from taking responsibility for their actions and hinder their personal growth and development.

See Also

• Manipulation
• Narcissistic personality disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Victim blaming
• Workplace bullying