1. World problems
  2. Depersonalization of responsibility

Depersonalization of responsibility

  • Contextual excuses for inertia
  • Creative self-victimization
  • Shifting of blame
  • Sophisticated assumptions of innocence
  • Avoidance of personal responsibility
  • Victim culture
  • Cultivation of victimhood
  • Compensation neurosis

Nature

The complexity and magnitude of world problems can appear overwhelming and beyond the capability of any one person or collection of people to change. Unable to face the confusion of chaos or impotence, people can retreat behind fatalistic or intellectual arguments, such as: "The government should take the responsibility", or "What's the point, it's out of control anyway", or "I'm powerless to do anything".

Claim

People increasingly develop, and cultivate, the inability to accept reasonable responsibility for the products or services they choose to acquire and any actions relating to them. Resentment of pain and loss following from irresponsibility is then also cultivated. Good fortune is assumed to be a right and there is the expectation that the individual will be compensated for any burden, no matter how it was incurred or suffered.

The rhetoric of victimhood is to be found: in ultra-radical feminism through which sexual intercourse is reframed as rape; in campus speech codes that constrain free expression to reflect supposed sensitivity of minorities; and in the widespread indulgence in claims of child abuse.

Since no one can legitimately claim not to have suffered some psychological trauma, it becomes harder and harder to hold anyone responsible for anything.

Counter-claim

In certain cultures it is acceptable, even expected, that the individual sublimate themselves to their life circumstances, status and society. Criticism may be condoned, but independent action is not, and often viewed as antisocial.

Broader

Victimization
Presentable
Irresponsibility
Yet to rate

Narrower

Blame avoidance
Yet to rate

Aggravates

Criminals
Presentable
Mismanagement
Yet to rate

Aggravated by

Living a lie
Presentable
Fatalism
Yet to rate
Blaming victims
Yet to rate

Strategy

Using inertia
Yet to rate
Shifting blame
Yet to rate
Making excuses
Yet to rate

Value

Avoidance
Yet to rate
Blame
Yet to rate
Victimization
Yet to rate
Impersonality
Yet to rate
Inertia
Yet to rate

Reference

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-beingSustainable Development Goal #16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(F) Fuzzy exceptional problems
Subject
  • Agriculture, fisheries » Cultivation
  • Commerce » Insurance
  • Culture » Culture
  • Health care » Mental health » Mental health
  • Individuation » Individuation
  • Psychology » Imagery
  • Psychology » Psychology
  • Societal problems » Victims
  • Content quality
    Excellent
     Excellent
    Language
    English
    Last update
    Nov 21, 2022