A victim mentality is a state of mind in which a person feels as if the world is against them, and bad things keep happening to them no matter what. It is an acquired personality trait that is primarily developed from family members and situations during childhood. People with a victim mentality tend to recognize or consider themselves a victim of the negative actions of others, and to behave as if this were the case in the face of contrary evidence of such.

There are several different causes of victim mentality, including childhood trauma or sexual abuse, negative self-talk, and learned helplessness. People who have experienced significant emotional or physical trauma may take on the victim role as a way to cope with their pain and feelings of powerlessness.

A victim mentality can make it feel like life is unfair, and people with this mindset tend to feel like they always have bad luck, and they may attribute their misfortune to external forces. They may feel stuck in life and approach things with a negative attitude. People with a victim mentality may also be generally pessimistic, exhibit self-pity, and repressed anger.

A victim mentality can affect your life in many ways, from stopping you from applying yourself at work to disrupting your relationship dynamics. It can lead to decreased well-being, poor social connections, and self-destructive behavior. However, it is a learned behavior and can be changed. To change the pattern, it is important to acknowledge the problem and take steps to address it.