Crab mentality is a term used to describe someone’s attitude that is blocking the success of others. This attitude is a form of unfair competition that can harm others.
The term crab mentality describes the nature analogous to the nature of crabs when they are crowded in a bucket. If one of the crabs rises and will come out of the bucket, the other crinkle will pinch and pull the crab back into the bucket
The behavior of these crabs can be said as a form of solidarity because they do not want their friends to come out of the bucket and die from being eaten by predators. However, in humans, this is more interpreted as a selfish attitude or jealousy toward the achievement of others that makes someone try to pull his friend down so as not to achieve success.
This Causes the Emergence of Crab Mentality
It is undeniable that humans naturally tend to live in groups. This will facilitate humans in achieving a goal. In group life, competitive traits are natural and can even be beneficial.
However, excessive competitive nature can actually make someone experience a crab mentality . In addition, low self -esteem, jealousy, despair, and even depression can foster a crab mentality .
The mindset of people who have a crab mentality is generally unhealthy. “If I can’t get what I want, you can’t get it either.”
The person may actually try harder to achieve his goals, but a sense of hopelessness and low self-confidence makes him choose to stop fighting and “invite” others to stay at the level of achievement so that he does not feel left behind.
Crab mentality can also be caused by a person’s dependence on group life. The departure of one group member will make it difficult for the group to develop, especially if the person leaving is a very influential person.
Therefore, people with crab mentality will try to hold back their friend who will go away so that he stays in the group.
The methods used to bring individuals down from success can vary, for example making comments that mock or scare others into being reluctant to continue their efforts.
How to Avoid Crab Mentality
Being in a group with people who have a crab mentality attitude can make you insecure , always feel depressed, uncomfortable to do daily activities, and lose the opportunity to develop your abilities.
Therefore, it is important for you to know how to avoid people with an attitude of crab mentality to be able to achieve the success you want. These methods include:
- Stay persistent to achieve success
In order to achieve success, you must remain optimistic and believe in yourself, yes. When other people make negative comments, close your ears and keep doing what you think is right. That way, you will not worry about criticism or satire of others about what you do.
- Continue to develop your own abilities
Try to continue to be enthusiastic in developing abilities, so that your confidence increases and is not easily provoked by other people’s comments. You can develop skills or try things you’ve never done before.
- Self-evaluation when feeling failed
Achieving a goal is not free from failure. However, do not let failure make you give up and swallow raw negative comments from others that can actually make you worse off.
Remember that in every failure there is always a lesson to be taken. So, try to evaluate yourself for the failure you experienced. That way, your confidence will rise again and you will be more eager to achieve success.
- Group with supportive people
Leaving a group with people who have a crab mentality attitude , especially if they are old friends, is not easy. However, staying in the group will only make it difficult for you to achieve success.
Well , start to reduce gathering with the old group and add new friends who are more supportive. So, when you are stepping towards success, you have another supportive group to encourage you.
Crab mentality in other people can have a big impact on you, from lowering your self-confidence to hampering your success. Even so, keep in mind, you do not need to be upset or angry with people who have a crab mentality , because it only wastes your time and energy.
It’s better to focus your attention on achieving the success of your dreams and leave them with their own problems. Keep holding on to your stand and apply how to survive from people with crab mentality as described above.
However, if you really feel that the treatment of people with crab mentality has really brought you down and made you want to give up, don’t hesitate to consult with a psychologist , yes.
