The Need to Be Offended: A Psychological Look at Outrage Culture

Why do some people act as if the rules should bend for them? In this episode of The Psychology of Us, Professor RJ Starr explores entitlement as more than arrogance—it’s a worldview that blurs desire and deserving. From childhood overindulgence or neglect to cultural messages that promise constant reward, entitlement takes root when limits are never fully learned. Consumer culture and social media reinforce it by telling us that attention, speed, and personalization are things we’re owed. The result is fragile confidence, strained relationships, and chronic dissatisfaction. Yet entitlement isn’t permanent. By practicing gratitude, accountability, and humility, we can soften its grip. Starr invites listeners to reflect on when they feel the world owes them, how unmet expectations shape their reactions, and what it means to move from grievance to reciprocity.

#profrjstarr, #thepsychologyofus, #ThePsychologyOfBeingHuman, #psychology, #humanbehavior, #emotionalintelligence, #entitlement, #mentalhealth, #selfawareness, #culturalpsychology, #identity, #personalitypsychology, #relationships, #awarenesspractice