The Rise of Victimhood Culture: A Dangerous Trend

In today's America, being a victim has become a powerful tool. It can justify actions that would otherwise be unacceptable. Take the case of Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Instead of facing criticism, Mangione was turned into a folk hero in a musical called "Luigi: The Musical. " This is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader cultural shift where grievance, whether real or imagined, has become a way to gain moral high ground. This trend is not just about one person or one event. It is a growing problem in society. People are increasingly using their perceived victimhood to avoid responsibility. This is seen in various aspects of life, from therapy sessions to political debates. In therapy, for example, some people use their grievances to justify harmful behavior. Instead of feeling guilty, they feel righteous. This is not healthy. It is a dangerous shift from healing to enabling. The problem is not new, but it has become more widespread. The civil rights movement, for instance, started with a genuine grievance but was rooted in a noble cause. Today, however, the focus has shifted. People are using grievance as a permanent identity, claiming moral authority and power. This mindset is spreading to schools, workplaces, and politics. On campuses, students believe that being challenged is the same as being harmed. In politics, leaders use victimhood to avoid responsibility and blame others. Social media has made this problem worse. It rewards outrage and amplifies victim narratives. The louder the complaint, the bigger the audience. Responsibility rarely trends. Outrage always does. This culture of victimhood is damaging on both personal and societal levels. It breeds fragility, making people less able to handle criticism or recover from setbacks. On a societal level, it corrodes trust and hollows out norms. Communities that once held people together are now splintering as groups compete to claim the greatest victimhood. The Mangione case is a clear example of where this logic leads. When victimhood becomes a permanent identity, almost anything can be justified. Lawbreaking is rebranded as resistance. Violence becomes self-defense. Accountability disappears. Even murder can be recast as heroism. This is a dangerous path to follow. It weakens society, making it more divided and vulnerable to those who exploit victimhood for power. To address this issue, a cultural reset is needed. In therapy, this means moving beyond validation and building resilience. In education, it means exposing students to challenges instead of shielding them. In politics, it means leaders willing to tell hard truths rather than pandering to victimhood. In everyday life, it means resisting the urge to nurse grievances and asking the harder question: What can I do? The Mangione case and the bizarre musical it inspired should serve as a wake-up call. It revealed a society increasingly willing to glorify violence in the name of victimhood. Empathy matters, but empathy without accountability turns into grievance. A society that elevates grievance above all else will not make us safer or more just. It will make us weaker, more divided, and more vulnerable to those who exploit victimhood for power.