Preferential Treatment is the practice of giving one person or group an advantage over others. This could range from something as insignificant as granting party favors to someone at a special request, to giving school districts more money than others by the state government.
People who feel entitled often expect preferential treatment from strangers that they do not deserve. This type of behavior can be frustrating and even dehumanizing to those who do not share their values or beliefs.
Entitled Parents
According to Susan Groner, author of “The Parenting Mentor,” many entitled parents believe they are entitled to preferential treatment from strangers. This may include demanding bribes for doing chores or asking for extra time on homework, according to these beliefs.
People who feel entitled often struggle to comprehend what others feel and need, since they do not view themselves as deserving of compassion or empathy. As a result, they may resent or even resist those around them.
Entitlement can be a dangerous attitude, particularly for young children who aren’t yet capable of handling hardship and challenge. They’re more likely to turn towards methods of escape like drugs or alcohol for comfort, according to Jonathan Wetter, author of Earn It!
Parents ultimately have the responsibility of raising healthy and resilient kids who are willing to work for what they desire. Teaching teens gratitude and empathy during teen years is essential in helping them avoid developing a sense of entitlement later in life, according to experts.
Entitled adults have been known to be less successful in relationships and the workplace, as well as more likely to resent or dislike other people due to either their own poor behavior or a lack of empathy, according to Stuempfig. Because these individuals may feel isolated within their communities or social circles due to this, Stuempfig suggests that such individuals could face increasing isolation over time.
They may experience low self-esteem and feel inadequate when their goals aren’t achieved. For instance, they could be disappointed if they don’t make honor roll or win the first-place trophy at school.
These feelings can hinder the development of resilience, according to Stuempfig. Resilience teaches people how to cope with difficult circumstances and avoid turning to unhealthy methods of escape such as substance abuse.
Even if you don’t feel that your parenting style is ideal, it is never too late to make changes in your own habits. By shifting the focus away from entitlement and towards responsibility, gratitude, and respect, you can lay the foundation for your child to develop similar characteristics as you.
You can also try to alter your own behavior and attitude, which will help your children recognize the distinction between entitlement and gratitude. For instance, write a journal about things that you are thankful for each day or week; if children observe that their parents model these practices, they are more likely to adopt them themselves.
Entitled Artists
Entitled artists can be a condescending bunch, and the best way to manage them is to keep your distance. As a general rule, they have no interest in you or your art; rather, they’re more interested in their money-making potential and if you make them angry they’ll be much worse off than if they had left you alone. They tend to exaggerate the quality of their work and have astounding turnover rates (see the picture above). It’s no wonder why they make such easy targets. Let us take a look at some famous entitled artists of all time who may or may not have made it big, regardless of their snobbish attitude – you can’t help but love them when they create some of your favorite songs or paintings!
Entitled Employees
Entitlement is an attitude in which employees use their position of power to demand higher salaries, preferential treatment for projects, employment benefits and/or schedule flexibility. This type of behavior has become increasingly problematic within the workplace and poses a challenge to many managers.
In some cases, entitled employees may have developed their attitudes of entitlement due to a variety of reasons. This could be because they have worked under a manager who has reinforced this attitude or received negative feedback in the past which caused them to believe they weren’t deserving of positive affirmation.
Another common factor contributing to an employee’s attitude of entitlement is their perception of fairness. If an entitled employee feels you are treating them unfairly, they may not feel motivated to work as hard as expected in exchange for the benefits they believe they deserve.
Managers must attempt to make the employee understand what needs to be done in order to earn their desired preferences. This can be accomplished through face-to-face meetings that enable both parties to share feelings, set goals and objectives, as well as discuss benchmarks.
Furthermore, managing expectations is key. For instance, if an employee feels they deserve a bonus for being an excellent team player, you must set out clear criteria that must be fulfilled before considering giving them anything in return.
Management of entitled employees requires an in-depth understanding of their motivations and cognitive style. By doing this, you can guarantee they receive appropriate feedback and guidance to help them reach their full potential.
If an entitled employee exhibits a strong personality trait such as arrogance, it is essential to attempt to mitigate this by employing strategies that make them feel as though their instructions are being delivered by someone of equal standing to them. Doing so may increase their willingness to abide by instructions given.
Entitled Strangers
Many people are surprised to know that entitled strangers often expect preferential treatment from those they know, which they do not deserve. This can lead to major frustration both personally and professionally.
In one particularly striking instance, a Reddit user shared her bizarre experience traveling to New York from JFK Airport with her husband and two small children. She expected an enjoyable journey with her family but was shocked by what other passengers said when she expected a peaceful time with them.
Rather than demonstrating empathy or kindness, she was met with an onslaught of insults and retribution from fellow passengers. Fortunately, she managed to make her points heard while maintaining her sanity.
Though it is sometimes impossible to avoid interactions with entitled strangers, there are steps you can take to make the experience as seamless as possible. The key is being able to communicate clearly with everyone involved and being aware of all engagement rules from the start. Without these, you’ll find yourself at a significant disadvantage in the long run.