When life throws you a curveball and you’re struggling to cope, learning how to manage stress can help. Through mindfulness, exercising regularly, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and eating healthily, there are ways you can lessen the likelihood of experiencing negative emotions when things get tough.
Recently, the term “Karen” has become more and more frequently used to refer to white women who exhibit public tantrums when not given their way. This trope has been criticized numerous times before and can be found in numerous movies, TV shows, and books.
1. Aggression
At times of stress and frustration, anger and aggression may be the default responses. While they can serve to relieve tension and frustration, they also often lead to negative outcomes.
Aggression can take many forms, but it usually involves a loss of control. It may be verbal, physical or both; relational aggression or directed towards an individual target are examples; social manipulation could also take place in such instances.
Asymmetrical aggression, also known as predatory aggression, is a type of common form of aggressive behavior. This typically occurs in situations where someone wants something and others don’t; it requires considerable planning and effort to achieve success.
Another form of aggression is instrumental aggression, which involves deliberate planning to achieve a desired result. It could be as minor as retaliating for something done to you or it could be as serious as harming another person during robbery.
Aggression can be a powerful tool for those who feel threatened. It gives them more control over the situation, which in turn may be beneficial to them.
Karens can be aggressive due to a sense of entitlement which causes them to believe their needs come first. As such, they often make unreasonable demands and become indignant when not met.
As a customer service employee, I frequently come into contact with Karens. Fortunately, I have learned how to effectively deal with them in an effective manner.
Most importantly, I have learned to diffuse their angry energy before it escalates into a major issue. To stay calm in these difficult situations, I try to keep my head cool, breathe some positivity into the situation and never lower myself to their level.
When dealing with Karens, it can be hard not to get caught up in their agenda. Remember that these individuals only want attention and don’t want their power taken away from them; thus they will use it for personal gain.
Karens can cause a range of stressful situations, but they are particularly common when dealing with customers or employees. Karens often display aggressive behaviors such as anger outbursts, threats and intimidation – all of which are unacceptable. These actions should never be tolerated.
2. Angry Outbursts
Recently, the internet has seen an uptick in viral videos featuring entitled Karens–usually white women who become angry when their needs aren’t met. From berating employees at stores to accusing Black families for hosting barbecues that don’t meet their standards–these women have become part of our cultural norm.
Entitled Karens can be difficult to manage and often create stressful circumstances for their victims. They crave attention, control and the chance to exercise their white privilege.
They often employ false victimhood as a weapon to attack authority figures and feel more powerful than others. This often involves calling authorities, exaggerating, or even lying about what they experienced.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you suspect someone of being Karen, it’s always best to avoid them and leave as quickly as possible. The stress and embarrassment they may cause cannot be worth the risk.
Although a little humor can go a long way in de-escalating the situation, it’s essential to maintain your composure and never lower yourself to their level. This may be challenging if the person is particularly angry or self-righteous, but sometimes the best course of action is simply to walk away rather than engage them in conversation.
Before responding to someone’s outburst, it may be beneficial to speak with a friend or loved one. Asking what has caused their upset can give you insight into their situation and allow for responses that help them de-stress.
Finally, it’s essential to remember that these outbursts may be indicative of something deeper and more serious. If they’re caused by a mental health or neurological condition, professional assistance may be necessary.
However, if they’re caused by an anger issue or rage attack that’s more personal to them, then it may simply be a normal reaction and nothing to worry about. A calm approach is always the best course of action and talking to your loved one before reacting can be an excellent way to show them you care about their wellbeing.
3. Threats
Entitled Karens can be incredibly destructive to those around them. They often believe they have the right to do whatever they please, even if that means threatening those who don’t share their beliefs. Furthermore, these individuals tend to exhibit strong hypocrisy as well as showing insecurities or acting inappropriately.
They often harass or assault service workers in stores and restaurants, criticize them for any small inconvenience, and use their white privilege as a weapon to smash anyone who comes close to them. This may involve shouting, making loud noises, snarling or even trying to punch someone out in public.
Recently, Karens have become a ubiquitous internet meme. They can be seen in an array of settings – on airplanes, during school board meetings, at dog parks and even the subway!
Some of these videos can be humorous, while others can be highly stressful to endure if you’re Black or someone who does not identify with the white woman threatening you.
It is essential to remember that these individuals act out of a sense of entitlement and often lack real life experience dealing with other humans. They can be highly aggressive and uncontrollable, so it’s best to avoid them at all costs.
If you come across an entitled Karen, be sure to alert your supervisors or the CARE team so they can determine the necessary level of support and resources to address the situation.
Googleing “Karen” will bring up many articles describing these people, most of which focus on women but there are male versions as well!
Karens are easily distinguished by their short blonde hair and sunglasses. Additionally, they always insist on speaking to a manager or supervisor.
Another characteristic is a lack of masks, making them prime carriers of COVID-19, an extremely dangerous strain of influenza virus. Unfortunately, many will refuse to receive vaccinations.
4. Intimidation
Karens with entitlement cause a great deal of stress for everyone involved, particularly employees and customers who deal with them. These women feel entitled to their lifestyle and often act out in ways that make others uncomfortable – whether through verbal or physical aggression.
Intimidation can take many forms, from a glowering demeanor to emotional manipulation or verbal abuse. It may also include threats of legal action or retaliation against you and/or your organization.
When someone behaves in an intimidating way, they are trying to subjugate you and make you feel inferior. This could take place at work or on the street.
It’s essential to recognize the distinction between intimidation and bullying. Bullying is an aggressive behavior that involves using threats, physical force, or humiliation to coerce someone into doing something against their will.
Though it can be challenging to recognize when someone is intimidating you, remember that the individual who is acting this way has no control over your situation. This type of behavior constitutes discrimination and should not be allowed to persist.
Physical intimidation is the most widespread type of intimidation. If an individual engages in physical violence, they could potentially be breaking the law.
State laws vary, but most have provisions against intimidation. Those found breaking the law can be arrested, fined and/or imprisoned.
In the workplace, if you encounter an intimidating employee, it is imperative to confront them and determine the issue. Do not let this individual intimidate either you or your team members.
Dealing with intimidating behavior can be a challenge, but it’s essential to take the time to talk to the person who is intimidating you and assess if there are any legitimate reasons behind their actions. Oftentimes, these individuals don’t intend to cause you harm; rather, they simply feel threatened.
One strategy to combat this behavior is mentally preparing yourself for the interaction before entering the room. Doing this gives you a better idea of what needs to be said and how best to respond.
