How to Deal with Entitled People in 4 Steps

We’ve talked about entitlement on the podcast before, but given the national conversations sparked by the recent Kavanaugh Supreme Court hearings, it bears revisiting. 

When Kavanaugh responded to questions about his drinking behavior with "I got into Yale," many people raised objections, not only about using a prestigious education as a moral defense, but also at the attitude of entitlement his answer implied.

Not many of us will ever be in a position to vote yay or nay on a Supreme Court nominee, but we will likely encounter other forms of smaller, everyday entitlement. A new hire may expect the choicest shifts without having to work her way up. A driver may decide to leapfrog a miles-long traffic jam by squeezing by on the shoulder. A passenger on the subway may blast a boombox, take up multiple seats, and otherwise disregard the rules intended for everyone. A customer might make multiple restaurant reservations to keep his options open and then no-show all but one. And almost everyone has experienced the houseguest who just. Won’t. Leave.

At its worst, entitlement gets personal and hateful, like online incel hate groups that believe they are entitled to sex with women, and have even incited violence to express their resentment.

But whether it’s a hate group or just a schoolkid who expects his parent to deliver his forgotten homework to his classroom, entitlement is a belief that we deserve special treatment or privileges, often at others’ expense. In short, entitlement is a double standard of expecting to receive without earning or contributing. 

And for entitled individuals themselves, this worldview is, of course, problematic: it’s a rigid mindset that leads to a cycle of unmet expectations, entitled explanations for why expectations went unmet, and self-pitying resentment at the unfairness of it all.

Therefore, what to do if you encounter an entitled individual in your family, on your staff, or on your couch eating all your snacks and not chipping in for utilities? Have hope! This week, here are 4 ways to deal with entitled people.

4 More Ways to Deal with Entitled People

1. Tip #1: Be consistent.
2. Tip #2: Don’t come to their rescue.
3. Tip #3: Ask yourself if rights were violated.
4. Tip #4: Remember the difference between worth and entitlement.

Here they are in more detail. 

Tip #1: Be consistent....

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