Some people feel so entitled that they think the rules don’t apply to them. They’ll go after anyone to get what they want, even a child. And when they get called out, they somehow make themselves the victim.
One mom was spending a peaceful day with her two young kids at the park. But things took a turn when another woman tried to steal from her son. She confronted her, and when the woman refused to back down, chaos followed. Read the full story below.
One mom was enjoying a peaceful day at the park with her two young kids
Image credits: Amel Uzunovic / Pexels (not the actual photo)
But another woman decided to ruin it by attempting to steal from her son
Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Edgar Mountain / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Mikael Blomkvist / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Aviouse96
Image credits: MART PRODUCTION / Pexels (not the actual photo)
What makes some people act so entitled, and what can we do about it?
Most of us have probably dealt with an entitled person at some point. Just like the mom in this story, you might have encountered someone who truly believed the world revolves around them. Whether it’s a coworker who always dumps their work on everyone else or a stranger who cuts in front of you at the store, it’s kind of an inevitable part of life.
But where does all of that entitlement actually come from?
According to Emily Zitek, an Associate Professor at Cornell University, entitlement is a personality trait where someone has a deep sense of deservingness. People who score high in entitlement believe they should get what they want simply because of who they are. And that belief isn’t based on what most people would consider valid reasons.
As it turns out, researchers don’t fully understand what causes people to be entitled. But they think it might come from how someone was treated by their parents or certain life events that made them feel special.
Sometimes it can actually be the opposite. Psychotherapist F. Diane Barth explains that a sense of entitlement can be a reaction to being mistreated or not getting what we need. In those cases, it’s kind of a way of someone saying they deserve respect just like everyone else. So it can even be a sign of someone starting to value themselves more.
Interestingly enough, a small amount of entitlement isn’t necessarily bad. Barth points out that believing we have the right to take care of ourselves and be respected by others is important for psychological well-being.
Zitek’s research backs this up too, showing that entitled people can sometimes be better at creative problem-solving and may perform well in certain negotiations. When they ask for what they want, sometimes they actually get it.
But it becomes a real problem when that entitlement crosses a line and starts inconveniencing everyone around you. Zitek’s research found that highly entitled people are more likely to create conflict and act selfishly.
In one study, entitled individuals were even more likely to take candy from children. On top of that, interacting with them can actually lower your own well-being. So it makes sense that most of us find them incredibly annoying to deal with.
The good news is there are a few things you can do. According to Zitek, changing an entitled person’s personality is extremely difficult. But you don’t have to just sit there and take it.
For starters, don’t give in to unwarranted demands, because doing so only reinforces their belief that they deserve special treatment. And when you do say no, it helps to explain why your refusal is fair. Entitled people probably won’t agree with you, but it’s still worth trying.
Looking at this story, the mom clearly wasn’t about to give in. She stood her ground and refused to let another woman walk all over her child. But do you think she handled it the right way? Should she have approached the situation differently? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Most readers agreed that the woman was completely out of line
However, one person felt that the mom’s reaction, especially the swearing, was a bit over the top
The author later returned with an update after talking to her husband about what happened
Image credits: RDNE Stock project / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Aviouse96
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