victim role
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victim role
An attitude or behavior pattern in which a person sees and presents themselves as a victim of circumstances or other people, often in order to avoid responsibility or gain sympathy.
Er flüchtet sich immer in die Opferrolle, anstatt seine Fehler einzugestehen.
He always retreats into the victim role instead of admitting his mistakes.
The word consists of 'Opfer' (victim) and 'Rolle' (role). So it literally describes the role of a victim that a person takes on.
Durch ihre ständigen Klagen manövrierte sie sich selbst in die Opferrolle.
Through her constant complaints, she maneuvered herself into the victim role.
'Opferrolle' (victim role) is often used with certain verbs that describe movement or a state. Typical phrases are 'sich in die Opferrolle flüchten' (to retreat into the victim role), 'in der Opferrolle verharren' (to remain in the victim role), or 'jemanden in die Opferrolle drängen' (to push someone into the victim role).
Anstatt zu handeln, verharrt er lieber in der Opferrolle.
Instead of taking action, he prefers to remain in the victim role.
The preposition 'in' is used with the accusative or dative depending on the context. Movement is expressed with the accusative ('in die Opferrolle'), while a state is expressed with the dative ('in der Opferrolle').
Er begibt sich bei jeder Kritik sofort in die Opferrolle.
At every criticism, he immediately puts himself into the victim role.
self-pity
'Selbstmitleid' and 'Opferrolle' both have to do with someone focusing strongly on their own suffering. 'Selbstmitleid' mainly describes a feeling: you feel sorry for yourself and stay inwardly focused on your problems. 'Opferrolle' is more about an outward attitude or behavior: someone presents themselves as a victim and may not take responsibility. The words can be confused because both can seem passive and complaining. In practical terms: 'Selbstmitleid' is more the feeling, while 'Opferrolle' is more the way someone presents themselves or behaves.
Im Streit geht sie oft in die Opferrolle und sagt, dass immer alle gegen sie sind.
In arguments, she often slips into the victim role and says that everyone is always against her.
Nach der Absage versank Paul kurz in Selbstmitleid, statt neue Bewerbungen zu schreiben.
After the rejection, Paul briefly sank into self-pity instead of writing new applications.