Meaning of Playing Victim Along with Characteristics and How to Respond Wisely

Kapanlagi.com - Maybe you often hear the phrase playing victim. Yes, playing victim has become one of the popular phrases in this era. But do you know what playing victim means? Playing victim cannot be labeled on just anyone, KLovers. This is because playing victim can also be a mental illness in someone.

The meaning of playing victim itself, for cool kids, is usually directed at someone who always creates drama. Even that person feels that they are the victim of a problem that occurs. But it could be that the problem is caused by themselves. So sometimes people who have the attitude of playing victim are hated by many people because it can harm anyone due to their behavior.

Now, for those of you who are curious about the true meaning of playing victim, here is the meaning of playing victim along with the characteristics and how to handle it wisely. Let's check it out, KLovers.

1. What is Playing Victim?

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As explained above, playing victim is a commonly used expression. However, it cannot be applied to just anyone, as playing victim can become a toxic behavior. According to George K. Simon (1996) in In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with, playing victim means engaging in manipulative behavior, especially when used to manipulate someone.

In addition, quoting from Healthline, playing victim refers to people who always identify themselves as victims and believe that others cause the suffering they experience, and nothing can be done to change the situation. The goal of playing victim is to gain pity or sympathy.

However, besides that reason, there are many other reasons why someone engages in playing victim. Usually, the reasons vary, including to control or influence the thoughts, feelings, and actions of others. They may also seek attention or use it as a way to cope with certain situations.

That is why playing victim cannot be attributed to just anyone. Those who engage in playing victim have attitudes that deviate from the norm. Usually this attitude is always repeated, causing harm to many people. So those who have a playing victim attitude are not someone who can be trusted, because their intention may be to deceive and harm us.

2. Characteristics of Someone Who is Playing Victim

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In addition to knowing the meaning of playing victim, of course you need to know what are the characteristics of people who have a playing victim attitude? This is also to protect you and to prevent you from easily believing those who often play victim. Here are some characteristics of someone who plays victim:

1. Manipulating Others

Usually those who like playing victim tend to present themselves as helpless in order to gain sympathy and support. They can also make others feel guilty for something that person did, even though it's not your fault.

2. Never Feeling Happy

Another characteristic is that those who like playing victim never feel happy. They feel that their life is always sad and lacking in happiness. Furthermore, this feeling of unhappiness becomes a weapon that they are innocent and should not be blamed by others and prevents them from ever being happy.

3.Always Blaming Others

Yes, those who play the victim will never feel guilty. They will blame others, even for the mistakes they have made. Someone who enjoys playing the victim will be busy finding faults in others and manipulating that they are the victims.

4.Often Involved in Drama

No matter what happens, they will show that there is always someone who mistreats them. This drama is usually told from their own perspective, while others are completely at fault.

3. How to Deal with Someone Who is Playing Victim

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In addition to the meaning of playing the victim and its characteristics, you also need to know how to deal with someone who enjoys playing the victim. Here are some appropriate and wise ways for you to handle those who play the victim:

1. Control Your Emotions and Be Patient

The first way to handle this is to control your emotions and remain patient. Expressing intense emotions will only make you lose to them. And your emotions will become a boomerang for you, as they can use them as a weapon to manipulate. Keeping your distance is the best way when dealing with someone who plays the victim.

2. Be Honest

Playing the victim is one of the toxic behaviors that make any relationship unable to run harmoniously. So you shouldn't be afraid to be open with them. Honestly say that their behavior is very disturbing. Explain any behaviors that are considered playing the victim.

3. Not Giving Attention and Arguing

Dealing with someone who likes to play the victim requires staying calm and stopping excessive sympathy. It is better not to give excessive attention to the perpetrator of playing the victim. Giving attention will only make them more arrogant and cause endless arguments.

4. Avoid Following Their Drama

You just need to control your emotions and avoid interacting with them, even trying to distance yourself from their circle of friends. This is so that you don't get involved in the drama they create and feel more annoyed because of their skill in distorting facts.

That is the meaning of playing the victim that you can understand. Not only the meaning of playing the victim, but you can also learn the characteristics and how to respond to them wisely.

(kpl/gen/dhm)