Skip to main content

Based on unearned incomes and profits, entitlements 'unique to capitalist culture'

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak 

Capitalism, with its inherent culture of psychopathic narcissism, nurtures a pervasive consumerist mindset of entitlement. This parasitic mentality enables capitalist entities to thrive off the value generated by the labour of working individuals. These chronic attitudes, processes, and structural norms are ingrained within society to perpetuate a culture of entitlement unique to capitalist systems based on unearned incomes and profits. Today, this epidemic of entitlement manifests broadly across various societies, shaping the economic, political, cultural and social landscapes.
In capitalist societies, the notion of entitlement extends beyond mere economic gain. It permeates social interactions, influencing how individuals perceive their rights and privileges. The normalisation of this entitlement is evident in the way wealth and resources are disproportionately allocated, consumed and controlled often justifying the exploitation of labour for personal or corporate gain. 
The entitlement epidemic is not limited to the upper echelons of society. It trickles down, affecting interpersonal relationships, family and community dynamics. The constant pursuit of self-interest, driven by the culture of narcissism, undermines collective well-being and encourages social fragmentation.
The personality traits of narcissism and entitlement are not organically innate; they are products of capitalist socialisation, which instils and perpetuates such values and practices. In a capitalist society, individuals are often encouraged to prioritise self-interest, competition, and material success over communal well-being and cooperation. 
This environment fosters a sense of entitlement and narcissism, as people are conditioned to view themselves as superior and deserving of special treatment. The focus on personal gain and achievement at the expense of others erodes collective values and promotes a culture where these traits are normalised and even rewarded. The understanding of social roots of narcissism and entitlement is essential for addressing their pervasive influence.
The narcissist culture of entitlement cultivates chronic laziness, selfishness, extreme individualism and various forms of exploitative culture in everyday lives. In this environment, individuals believe they are entitled to reap the benefits of others' labour without contributing anything themselves. They operate under the assumption that everyone owes them everything, yet they owe nothing to anyone. Limitless self-indulgence continues to be the lifeblood of narcissism and entitlement.
This unchecked pursuit of personal gratification fuels these traits, reinforcing a cycle of selfishness and disregard for others. Narcissistic individuals prioritise their own desires and needs above all else, often at the expense of those around them. 
Their sense of entitlement drives them to seek constant validation and special treatment, perpetuating a mindset that justifies their actions and attitudes. This relentless focus on self-indulgence not only harms relationships and community dynamics but also undermines the potential for genuine personal growth and fulfilment.
These narcissistic and entitled individuals, groups, and cultures manifest in various forms of delusional self-confidence, often devoid of any real substance in their personal or professional lives. Despite their lack of genuine achievement or merit, they maintain an inflated sense of self-worth, ethics and entitlement. A common thread among all entitled and narcissistic individuals is their parasitic nature. 
They consistently seek to exploit the efforts and resources of others, displaying a profound lack of empathy and communal responsibility. This parasitism undermines the very fabric of social cohesion, creating an environment where mutual respect and cooperation are eroded.
From grandiose narcissism to vulnerable narcissism and all other forms, these traits persist by projecting either superiority or inferiority. Grandiose narcissists assert their dominance and self-importance, often exhibiting arrogance and an inflated sense of self-worth. In contrast, vulnerable narcissists mask their insecurities and fragility by seeking excessive validation and attention. 
Narcissists and their culture of entitlement erode the collective foundations of society, promoting individualism
Both types, along with other variations of narcissism, rely on externalising their self-perception to manipulate how others view them. This projection not only reinforces their self-image but also serves as a defence mechanism against self-reflection and personal growth. 
Narcissists and entitled individuals consistently project their ignorance, incompetence, vulnerabilities and failures onto others, avoiding any form of self-reflection. They engage in relentless blaming, defaming, gaslighting, and manipulation, constantly redirecting every situation back to themselves. 
Their lack of accountability is coupled with a deep-seated need to control the narrative through falsehoods, making it difficult for others to realise the realities. Such behaviours not only erode trust but also undermines the potential for genuine relationships. It is important to understand these patterns of behaviour for recognising and protecting oneself from such toxic dynamics of capitalist culture. 
Narcissists and their culture of entitlement erode the collective foundations of society, promoting individualism in a way that enables capitalism to thrive without resistance. This shift undermines communal bonds and fosters an environment where personal gain is prioritised over the common good. The resulting fragmentation weakens societal cohesion, making it easier for exploitative systems to perpetuate themselves. 
Moreover, this culture of narcissistic entitlement has broader implications for society. It promotes a mentality where success is measured not by one's contributions or achievements, but by one's ability to manipulate and exploit. This distorts social values, prioritising self-interest over collective well-being and eroding trust within communities.
It is crucial to foster a culture that values genuine contributions and reciprocal relationships based on truth. The growth of accountability, empathy, and community engagement can help mitigate the negative impacts of narcissistic entitlement, promoting a more equitable and cohesive society. It is possible to cultivate a culture of resilience that values collective prosperity over individual gain by challenging the capitalist norms of narcissistic entitlement.

Comments

TRENDING

Modi govt distancing from Adanis? MoEFCC 'defers' 1500 MW project in Western Ghats

By Rajiv Shah  Is the Narendra Modi government, in its third but  what would appear to be a weaker avatar, seeking to show that it would keep a distance, albeit temporarily, from its most favorite business house, the Adanis? It would seem so if the latest move of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) latest to "defer" the Adani Energy’s application for 1500 MW Warasgaon-Warangi Pump Storage Project is any indication.

India’s climate tech ecosystem in dire need of both early, growth-stage funding: Report

By Our Representative India’s climate tech ecosystem, which boasts over 800 startups, is in dire need of both early and growth-stage funding to leverage its full potential, according to a report by Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (Ventures) and MUFG Bank , Japan. Despite a robust initial funding landscape, with approximately two-thirds of climate tech startups receiving seed capital, growth-stage investments remain critically lacking. 

'Flawed' argument: Gandhi had minimal role, naval mutinies alone led to Independence

Counterview Desk Reacting to a Counterview  story , "Rewiring history? Bose, not Gandhi, was real Father of Nation: British PM Attlee 'cited'" (January 26, 2016), an avid reader has forwarded  reaction  in the form of a  link , which carries the article "Did Atlee say Gandhi had minimal role in Independence? #FactCheck", published in the site satyagrahis.in. The satyagraha.in article seeks to debunk the view, reported in the Counterview story, taken by retired army officer GD Bakshi in his book, “Bose: An Indian Samurai”, which claims that Gandhiji had a minimal role to play in India's freedom struggle, and that it was Netaji who played the crucial role. We reproduce the satyagraha.in article here. Text: Nowadays it is said by many MK Gandhi critics that Clement Atlee made a statement in which he said Gandhi has ‘minimal’ role in India's independence and gave credit to naval mutinies and with this statement, they concluded the whole freedom struggle.

Bayer's business model: 'Monopoly control over chemicals, seeds'

By Bharat Dogra*  The Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) has rendered a great public service by very recently publishing a report titled ‘Bayer’s Toxic Trails’ which reveals how the German agrochemical giant Bayer has been lobbying hard to promote glyphosate and GMOs, or trying to “capture public policy to pursue its private interests.” This report, written by Joao Camargo and Hans Van Scharen, follows Bayer’s toxic trail as “it maintains monopolistic control of the seed and pesticides markets, fights off regulatory challenges to its toxic products, tries to limit legal liability, and exercises political influence.” 

105,000 sign protest petition, allege Nestlé’s 'double standard' over added sugar in baby food

By Kritischer Konsum*    105,000 people have signed a petition calling on Nestlé to stop adding sugar to its baby food products marketed in lower-income countries. It was handed over today at the multinational’s headquarters in Vevey, where the NGOs Public Eye, IBFAN and EKO dumped the symbolic equivalent of 10 million sugar cubes, representing the added sugar consumed each day by babies fed with Cerelac cereals. In Switzerland, such products are sold with no added sugar. The leading baby food corporation must put an end to this harmful double standard.

UNEP report on how climate crisis is impacting displacement, global conflicts, declining health

By Shankar Sharma*  A recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), titled "A Global Foresight Report on Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing," warrants urgent attention from our country’s developmental perspective. The findings, detailed in the report, should be a source of significant concern not only globally but especially for our nation, which has a vast population and limited natural resources. 

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Militants, with ten times number of arms compared to those in J&K, 'roaming freely' in Manipur

By Sandeep Pandey*  The violence which shows no sign of abating in the ongoing Meitei-Kuki conflict in Manipur is a matter of concern. The alienation of the two communities and hatred generated for each other is unprecedented. The Meiteis cannot leave Manipur by road because the next district North on the way to Kohima in Nagaland is Kangpokpi, a Kuki dominated area where the young Kuki men and women are guarding the district borders and would not let any Meitei pass through the national highway.