ADANTA - Entitlement - Learning Why It Should Not be All About Me
By Tracie R . Horton , CEO / Executive Director The Adanta Group
We all have experienced it at some point in our lives – standing in line watching a customer attempt to return a used and damaged item for a full refund ; the busy person who attempts to cut in line , the student who does the minimum assignment but expects an “ A ”; the employee that acts as if the rules don ’ t apply or the coworker that constantly complains about not getting a raise , but calls in sick repeatedly . Those behaviors all have one thing in common – a sense of deserving or entitlement . In most cases , that expectation of entitlement is not based on what other people would consider good or even valid reasons . Entitlement issues are not exclusive to any certain demographic , but it appears to be more pronounced today than ever before .
You Owe Me !
Entitlement is a personality characteristic based on the belief that someone deserves special treatment or recognition for something they didn ’ t earn . In other words , people with this mindset believe that the world owes them without ever giving anything in return . A person with a sense of entitlement has a self-absorbed view of the world and little regard or empathy for their impact on others . In its extreme form , a sense of entitlement may be part of a personality disorder ( narcissistic personality disorder , antisocial personality disorder ).
Signs You Are Dealing with an Entitled Person .
• They think they deserve special treatment .
• Their personal needs come before everyone else ’ s needs .
• They can be very argumentative .
• They feel they deserve more than what they have in life .
• They are not grateful for what they have .
• They have a sense of deserving - money , possessions , and friends .
• They act like victims and blame other people or outside forces for their problems .
• They constantly need praise and admiration from others .
A sense of entitlement develops in individuals for various
42 • SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky february 2023