A person’s perception of victimhood influences the way they think about and respond to social or personal events that happen to them. It can also affect how they interact with other people. For example, some people may get offended if a friend does not immediately reply to them, or they might assume that a stranger’s annoyed look is directed at them. If these kinds of incidents are frequent, it can be an indicator that they have a tendency to perceive themselves as victims of others’ actions.

Perceiving yourself as a victim is a common phenomenon in modern society, with the word “victim” being one of the most important identity positions in American politics, where people such as Donald Trump often portray themselves as victims of media coverage and of their political opponents. This is because they believe that they have been treated unfairly and disproportionately by the system, although in reality it is quite the opposite.

In a broader sense, the term victim can be used to describe someone who is hurt or harmed in any way, for instance when referring to victims of fraud or sexual assault, or it can refer to someone who has been abused by their partner (and therefore could be seen as a domestic violence survivor). People with a perception of victimhood often feel helpless and powerless, and they can struggle to trust other people and take risks.

Research on the psychology of victims has been a neglected field, partly because it has been stigmatised as “blaming the victim.” But if you continue to play the victim game, even when life is going well, you may lose out on opportunities for success and happiness.