‘Entitlementia’ Now Identified: Merger of Words Entitlement and Dementia Describes New Problem
Reno, NV (PRWEB) October 18, 2016 -- More Americans now suffer from an entitlement mentality than ever before. Many are conditioned to receive rather than achieve. They expect to be rewarded without gratitude or deed, much less hard work.
The problem is “Entitlementia,” the combination of entitlement and dementia, as popularized by Garrett Sutton in his book “Toxic Client: Knowing and Avoiding Problem Customers.”
Dementia isn’t any one disease. Rather it is a bundle of symptoms affecting one’s thinking and social abilities enough to interfere with normal living. Signs of dementia include a difficulty with planning and organizing, an inability to reason, inappropriate behavior, a decrease in motivation and problems with memory. When those with dementia are placed in situations beyond their abilities, they often react with anger, frustration and an eruption of emotion. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which makes up 55% to 65% of all cases.
An entitlement mentality also displays the same core characteristics of dementia. Psychologists view entitlement as a continuum of personality traits that range from the less severe self-absorption all the way to narcissism. All involve a perspective in which selfish needs dominate over empathy and sacrifice. Righteousness, grandiosity, and self-centeredness are other terms used to describe the characteristics of these individuals.
Entitlementia can start small. The free (and illegal) downloading of music and books, with no regard for the artist’s effort, is an initial mercenary act that can lead to greater takings, demands and clouding of judgment.
Using the term Entitlementia is a way to clearly put forth the problem. The next step is for the afflicted to get help. While some are willfully blind to their problem, others will respond if they hear it often enough from enough people. A forum for discussion and ideas can be found at http://www.entitlementia.com
The economic consequences of entitled workers not getting help are especially significant. Frequently, those with Entitlementia have been trained at the best schools. They have achieved great academic success but have never worked at a real job. They believe they should get the work they want to do and that they are just as smart or better than their new ‘peers’ with years of work experience. Those with Entitlementia are in it for themselves – for the instant fame and riches that is their due. Fitting into a work organization where you start at the bottom and work as a team doesn’t fit their entitled view of life. But these selfish attitudes ultimately do not contribute to the whole. The economy and, by extension, all of us suffer.
And so the term Entitlementia should be used. We must clearly identify the problem. By doing so we provide those in need of help a framework for recovery. As well, by talking openly about the problem we can all seek to prevent another generation of Entitlementia.
Garrett Sutton is a bestselling author and attorney. His clearly written books, including Start Your Own Corporation and Loopholes of Real Estate, have helped entrepreneurs and investors protect their assets and advance their goals. For more information visit http://www.CorporateDirect.com. In speaking with his many clients, Garrett has learned how often they face and struggle with toxic clients. Toxic Client: Knowing and Avoiding Problem Customers is based on those experiences. To receive the first chapter of Toxic Client free visit http://www.ToxicClient.com. For help with the problems of Entitlementia visit http://www.entitlementia.com.
Elizabeth Ryan, Sutton Law Center, https://www.corporatedirect.com/, +1 775-824-0300, [email protected]
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