Crab mentality is a psychological syndrome that causes sufferers to always be jealous.
Have you ever heard the complaints of children who are shunned because of their achievements?
Or, has your child ever been envied because he is superior to others?
Be careful! It could be that it is the embodiment of crab mentality!
The term crab mentality may still be unfamiliar to your ears. But in fact, this behavior is very likely to occur in a friendship, including in the child’s social circle.
The definition of crab mentality is selfish behavior and envy of the success of others. This behavior is considered a psychological syndrome by which the sufferer will tend to show unpleasant actions to others who are better than him.
The analogy refers to the behavior of a group of crabs in a bucket. When a crab wants to climb out, the other crab will pull the crab until it fails and gets what it wants.
Crab mentality stems from overly competitive attitudes and an inability to compete in a healthy way. Children with such characters will try to bring down their friends if they feel unrivaled.
Mentality like this cannot be allowed to grow with children.
Let’s get to know more about it what is crab mentality through the series of information below!
1. Signs of a child with a crab mentality
Crab mentality can haunt anyone. Every child can potentially be a victim, but it does not rule out the possibility that he could also be the perpetrator who harmed his own friend.
Recognize the signs of children with crab mentality:
- Underestimating every achievement of his friends.
- Having a mindset like “only I will succeed, if I fail, then my friends cannot succeed”.
- Manipulative and always make bad comments about others.
- Envy or even emotion when they see their friends succeed in achieving what they want.
- Difficulty appreciating the superiority of others.
- Thinks that other people’s success is only obtained from luck, not from the results of their own efforts.
- Inviting other friends to behave badly, such as not doing homework or skipping school.
2. Factors that cause crab mentality
Crab mentality does not present itself. Several things can be the cause of the development of crab mentality in children.
These factors include:
- Excessive competitive behavior.
- Not confident in their own abilities and potential.
- Dependence to live in groups with the same fate.
- High degree of egoism.
- Incitement from the other side to equally dislike the success of others.
3. The impact of crab mentality on children
Impact on Crab Mentality very destructive for both parties, both victims and perpetrators. Especially for children who generally don’t have more stable emotions.
For victims, the adverse effects include:
- Stuck in an unsupportive environment.
- Difficult to develop.
- Always feel pressured to do daily activities.
- Feeling guilty when superior.
- Not enjoying the success that has been achieved.
Even though it is not visible directly, the perpetrators also get the bad effects as follows:
- A heart that is consumed by jealousy makes it difficult to see the good in others
- Constant uneasy feeling.
- Can not develop optimally in any case.
- It’s hard to have good motivation to excel.
- Not sincere in every activity.
- Always think negatively and find it difficult to accept input and suggestions from others.
4. How to prevent children from getting crab mentality
To avoid children from attitudes, you can start by fostering children by instilling mindsets and behaviors such as the following:
- Motivate children to give maximum effort in everything.
- Give children the opportunity to learn independently and try their own hard work.
- Self-confident! Children must stay away from the habit of comparing themselves to others.
- Invite children to focus on their own potential and abilities.
- Most importantly, advise children to group with supportive people. Make sure your child has a healthy circle of friends.
5. What parents need to do to overcome crab mentality in children
If you find signs of crab mentality in children, then it’s never too late to deal with them.
Here’s how to deal with crab mentality in children that parents need to do:
- Give children an understanding that in this world success does not only come from luck or privilege factors. There are no small struggles and sacrifices behind the success, and it should be appreciated.
- Invite children to see from another point of view. Make him think, what if when he succeeds, there are other people who want to bring him down? Make your child aware that such behavior is very disturbing to other people
- Guide children to find their own potential. Show him that everyone has their advantages.
- If you make a mistake, the child must self-evaluate. Don’t blame others.
- If a child is trapped in the wrong environment and this is preventing him from changing, accompany the child to find healthy friendships.
That’s the information about crab mentality what you have to watch out for.
As parents, we also play an important role in exemplifying good behavior, so also make sure you are not stuck with crab mentality behavior.
Make sure the child to focus on himself. Invite him to see other people’s success as motivation and happiness, not even as a threat.
