Are You a Crab?

 

Crab mentality shows its ugly face in the workplace, in the family, in the classroom, or in a basketball team ... when somebody tears down another person whose achievements are far greater than theirs. Others say it is so true amongst Filipinos but having worked with other nationalities, it is true for all, This behavior takes its name from how crabs scramble to get out of a boiling pot by clambering on top of the others to survive.

Crab mentality is an analogy to someone's selfish and envious behavior of other people's success. Crab mentality is also defined as someone's likelihood or proclivity to badmouth another person they thought exceeded their laurels and is better than them in any dimension.

Crabs in a bucket is a metaphor for the behavior of people whose mantra spells " if I can't have it ... neither can you. They would rather wish ... that nobody gets the job done ... than see others victorious ... while they fail.

You can always identify crabs in your midst. Just open your eyes and you will be surprised your brother tops the list ... or your best friend is a bona fide member of the inner sanctum. Or you may even be flabbergasted ... you fit the descriptions down below.

1. They are those people who gossip and volunteer to give negative reviews when someone becomes moneyed or famous.

2. They become stingy to acknowledge one's success, and they become aloof and distant when praising is the order of the day.

3. They feel threatened when others achieve their goals and get the much-needed promotion.

4. They are Mr/Miss Know-It-All. He is very generous when he criticizes others ... and hell will break loose if you criticize them.

5. They are so conceited, opinionated ... and condescending ... treating others as lesser mortals.

6. The green-eyed monster reeks of discontent, resentment, spite, jealousy, and envy.

7. The only person that is good in their estimate is themselves. They see mistakes in others ... and are blind to see their flaws.

8. They don't take responsibility. They are too quick to blame others for their own failures.

9. They think of others as opponents, an adversary, and worse ... an enemy. If the group thinks team building is the key, he'd rather wish the team was fragmented.

10. They don't care about the people they defamed ... or slandered. The only person he cares about is himself.

Yes sir ... even in the family, you can see crabs. It is not the first time you see a brother resenting the success of his sister ... or a daughter not appreciating her parents ... even though Dad and Mom have practically taken all the liberty of shouldering everything they need.

And you will see sons who are self-entitled, abusive with God-complex ... he has an unshakable belief that he has the privilege and is infallible ... you almost fear his skepticism and cynicism will evolve to paranoia.