As may come as a shock, there is actually a psychology behind why entitled men, commonly referred to as entitled Kens, act so destructively towards others. They frequently experience disappointment in meeting expectations that lead them down an emotional and anger spiral that leaves them emotionally depressed and angry.
These behaviors can often make people distant from friends and family, making it challenging to manage.
1. They believe they deserve it.
Recent videos showing an entitled man attacking an Asian-American doctor for calling the police has sparked intense discussion online. Social media users have taken to calling out “Ken,” as his behavior towards others is considered unacceptable and destructive.
There can be numerous reasons for entitled men acting this way, such as an inability to empathize with other people, deep-seated insecurities and needing to feel dominant over them. While such actions might not always be abusive or violent, they do create an atmosphere of fear, anxiety and rage which can result in more destructive actions being taken against individuals or society at large.
Therefore, it’s vitally important to recognize signs of an unhealthy mindset and seek assistance. A therapist or counselor can assist in pinpointing their source and finding productive strategies for dealing with them.
An indication of entitlement can also be seen when an individual finds it hard to accept failure. Such people tend to expect success all of the time and have difficulty accepting setbacks or admitting mistakes made by others. They may have difficulty forgiving mistakes when they happen or failing other people in any form.
2. They feel they deserve the best.
People who feel entitled to something believe they deserve it more than others. For instance, they might expect to receive top grades without working hard towards it or they might demand an executive position from their new company immediately upon being hired.
But research has demonstrated otherwise. Entitled individuals are often willing to do whatever is necessary in order to obtain what they desire; this includes manipulating others or trying to coerce them into giving in, such as by telling them they’ll lose everything if they refuse.
Recognizing and avoiding this kind of behavior is often challenging, yet essential for life. Although sexual harassment most commonly impacts men who engage in sexual acts, women may also display this sort of behavior that negatively impacts both them and their relationships. By understanding it better we can learn to recognize it more quickly and treat those around us more respectfully.
3. They don’t like being told “No.”
Men who feel that they have been rejected can become angry and demanding of those who refused their demands – this behavior can be highly damaging and upsetting, particularly towards women.
Cornell philosopher Kate Manne emphasizes this theme in her new book, “Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women,” noting the pervasive unearned entitlement men possess to affections, labor, and deference that keeps women in second-class status and contributes to sexism.
As a society, we need to challenge male entitlement. Not only is it bad for women but its effects also extend well beyond gender issues; so the more we challenge it the faster progress will occur.
4. They don’t care who they hurt to get what they want.
One of the key indicators of entitlement among men is their lack of care about who gets hurt to get what they want – this is especially true in relationships.
They may attempt to take what’s theirs from those around them, such as service workers, customer support or coworkers, with aggressive and intimidating behavior towards anyone who doesn’t agree with their demands. They will use bullying and manipulation techniques against any one who doesn’t comply.
Children often exhibit extreme behavior when their needs aren’t fulfilled; tantrums and tantrum-throwing tantrums often follow as it becomes difficult for them to compromise or wait their turn.
These behaviors are highly destructive to relationships and should be stopped in order to save them.
As part of their need to feel special and validated, these people also frequently seek attention and seek validation from others on a regular basis. If their desired goals aren’t being fulfilled, this needs to be validated to help boost self-worth and feel like special individuals.
5. They seek attention/validation.
Attention-seeking behavior is driven by an intense need to feel like superiority. Entitled men often spend their time soliciting compliments and boasting about their accomplishments, often seeking to attract further praise for themself.
People suffering from low self-esteem and insecurity often resort to sexual acts and provocations in order to gain attention or appear flirtatious; such behaviors are the direct result of low self-esteem and insecurity.
Needing constant validation can become an effective coping mechanism when they feel rejected or failed in relationships. They might resort to throwing pity parties and seeking attention from others when things don’t seem to be going their way.
entitled men often don’t care who they hurt when acting this way; all they care about is getting what they believe is due them without considering how other may be impacted by it.
There are ways to combat destructive behavior, beginning with altering your expectations about what other people deserve and taking a step back and looking at the big picture. Counseling may also help individuals understand their emotions better and find healthier methods of handling them.
6. They love pity parties.
An entitled man may use one of his most effective tactics: getting people to pity them. This can give the man a feeling that they are being noticed.
Pity parties also help him relax from being constantly on the move.
Attracting attention can be hard enough on its own, but when you are already feeling down you are more likely to do anything to improve your state.
This could range from tying a bow tie, singing loudly and proudly or donning an elaborate costume.
Being forced into a pity party may not be exciting for anyone involved, but there are ways you can prevent it from happening to yourself. Take some time to reflect upon your expectations and consider whether they are reasonable in light of current circumstances; this will prevent being drawn down the slippery slope into entitlement territory.
7. They will belittle others if they don’t get their way.
Once you become acquainted with someone with an entitlement mentality, you’ll quickly come to realize they often do not care who gets hurt as long as they get what they want. They often hold an inflated view of themselves and value admiration over anything else.
At times of disagreement or when their agenda doesn’t go their way, entitled people can use bullying, tantrums and any other means necessary to get what they want. When this doesn’t work they resort to bullying tactics such as tantrums and threats in order to force it through.
Behavior that exhibits entitlement mentality is unproductive and stressful, making life harder than necessary for everyone involved. If someone in your life exhibits this trait, it is crucial that you understand why they do it so that you can effectively deal with them and stop any negative impact they might be having on relationships.
Assume that these individuals are just dealing with their own internal struggles. Perhaps they feel inadequate to invest time or energy into relationships; maybe they feel entitled to things they want in life but feel unworthy; therefore they might try and treat you poorly to feel better about themselves.
8. They will sabotage another’s success to win.
An entitled man is often guilty of acting in ways which undermine the success of those around them to get what they want – regardless of who gets hurt along the way. These individuals don’t care who gets hurt as long as it gets them where they need to be – no matter who gets in their way.
Sabotaging behavior takes many forms, from stealing work and neglecting tasks that must be completed to telling their bosses that you’re not fulfilling your duties properly. Sometimes these saboteurs even attempt to have you fired by telling their superiors you are failing at doing your job and therefore shouldn’t be given another chance.
How to tell if coworkers are using sabotage to get ahead is by keeping an eye out for any subtle signals of them trying to harm you in any significant way. Don’t jump ship immediately; but if they are attempting to gain advantage through such means then perhaps its time for change and someone new comes on board.
One can be aware of many reasons for why someone with an entitlement mentality might behave negatively towards others, and be on guard against such actions causing unnecessary anxiety or stress. If you’re involved with someone who exhibits this trait, make sure you watch for the telltale signs so as to have the best chance at avoiding being placed into any potentially problematic situations with them.
