Tina Fey
Self-entitled people believe that life owes them.
They are the epitome of the precious little snowflake. The entire Universe resolves around them.
They expect special treatment and are aghast when they don’t get it. They want the prize but don’t want to put in the work.
There’s little in life as irritating as someone who is majorly entitled. Especially because they just can’t see it.
1) They complain about even the smallest of things
No Karen, the waiter doesn’t have a vendetta against you because you’ve had to wait longer than 30 seconds for your drink to arrive.
Self-entitled people often blow things out of proportion.
“This shouldn’t be happening to me!”
Rather than accept that little inconveniences are a natural part of everyone’s life, they rage against them.
In the process, they create their own suffering, but they don’t see it that way.
In their minds, it’s the world that has a problem, not them.
2) They blame everyone and everything for their problems
When life hands an entitled person lemons, there is no way they’re making lemonade out of them.
Instead, they will catalog all the reasons why it’s just not fair.
They will quickly point the finger and shift blame when challenges arise.
It’s a victim mentality, but they believe that screaming and shouting about the “bad things” that happen is them fighting back.
They are incapable of recognizing that their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are 100% on them.
So instead, they’re always looking for an event or person to hold responsible.
3) They don’t pay their own way
Years ago, I had to part ways with a friend because of her self-entitled approach to money.
For some reason, she didn’t think she had to pay her fair share, just like everyone else.
I’d always known her (slightly Princess) attitude about not paying when it came to men and dating. But she also applied it to friendships too.
Apparently, her sparkling company is payment enough and she would always leave you to pick up the check.
Believing you deserve special treatment means you’ve got a severe case of self-entitlement.
4) They take pleasure in correcting you
That’s because they’re smug and a bit (or a lot) of a know-it-all.
Humility isn’t a virtue that self-entitled people have. That’s because they don’t even see it as a virtue.
They may take a condescending approach when explaining things to you.
They seemingly take pleasure in pointing out any of your errors or mistakes.
5) They love to bad-mouth people
When you think that you are fundamentally better than others it gives your ego a lovely big boost to put people down.
That way, you can remind yourself (and everyone else) how perfect you are, and how inferior they are.
People with a sense of entitlement are quick to judge others. They lack the empathy to put themselves in other people’s shoes.
As well as that, they are missing the self-awareness to spot their own flaws. So they never learned the expression:
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
6) They take things without asking
What’s yours is theirs.
Entitled people love to share…if sharing means helping themselves to whatever is yours.
Maybe it’s your new favorite sweater that you left at their house, and now you’ve spotted them around town wearing it.
Perhaps it’s the tasty treat you were saving in the fridge for later.
Whilst they’ll happily take most things from you, unfortunately, the answer ‘no’ is not one of them.
7) They don’t seem to take no for an answer
When someone is pushy it’s because they believe they should get their own way.
Otherwise, they would respect boundaries and acknowledge someone else’s wishes.
Not a self-entitled person.
They will keep on asking until you give in. Often they simply believe that they know better.
You said you didn’t feel like going out tonight. But they know you’re just being a bore, and when you get there you’ll have fun.
It doesn’t occur to them that you have a right to make your own decisions.
8) They’re always asking for favors
They have zero shame about constantly putting other people out.
They will push their luck without even realizing it.
“You don’t mind do you?”
But before you’ve even had a chance to reply, they’ve assumed that you don’t.
What makes it extra galling is that entitled people tend to be all take, take, take. But when it comes to returning the favor, they’re nowhere to be seen.
They are unlikely to inconvenience themselves for you but still expect you to.
9) They’ll happily cut in line
They are busier and more important than other people.
So they don’t expect to wait their turn.
If you’re being served, they’ll have no problem interrupting to ask their far more pressing question.
They’re the people who march to the front of the queue as if the checkout line has a VIP system.
10) They boss you around
It’s easy to see how entitled people can become bossy boots.
After all, they always think they’re right and know best. So they may develop a habit of telling you what to do.
That might be what restaurant you should eat at or what you should and shouldn’t wear.
When they’re busy barking orders at you, it doesn’t occur to them that they shouldn’t.
They’ll happily tell you off and chastise you if you don’t meet their standards or do exactly what they want.
11) They sulk when they don’t get their own way
If heaven forbid you should ever dare to stand up to them, they won’t be happy.
The problem is that it’s difficult to be mad at someone who technically hasn’t done anything wrong (other than not following your every whim).
So if you’ve gone against their wishes they may opt to quietly punish you.
Passive-aggressive techniques like giving the silent treatment and withdrawing can be great tools for doing this.
12) If they don’t want to do something, then they simply won’t do it
I’m not an advocate for mindlessly following the crowd. If something doesn’t float your boat, it’s fine to sit this one out.
But we do need to compromise too.
It’s how we show respect for other people’s preferences, needs, and wants.
But entitled people don’t really care about those things.
Even if an event is pretty important to you, if they’re not in the mood they don’t see why they should have to go.
13) They don’t follow the rules
It’s not even a particularly rebellious streak. It’s simply that they feel above the rules.
The things that are put in place for the consideration of others matter little to them.
If they want to smoke, they’ll smoke. Who cares what the sign says?
If they want to park in a disabled space, they’ll park there.
After all, it’s for a good reason ( so they can avoid walking an extra 30 feet).
14) Their problems are more important than yours
A sense of entitlement often creates a strange and uncontrollable urge to compete with others.
Not just when it comes to accomplishments, but even over problems.
Have you ever tried to explain to someone that you’re having a bad day, only for them to chime in to prove that theirs is so much worse?
In their world, everything matters more than in yours.
Their struggles are harder and their problems more challenging.
15) They’ll cut you off or talk over you
Interrupting others is an ugly habit. But one that many of us may accidentally do from time to time.
Sometimes we’re too enthusiastic to jump in. Or we are very chatty and don’t account for someone else’s quieter communication approach.
But repeat offenders act like what they have to say deserves more of a platform than others.
It’s a sign of being self-absorbed.
16) Their favorite topic of conversation is “me, me, me”
Here’s another clear indication that someone is preoccupied with their own interests, feelings, or situation:
It’s all they ever talk about.
They show very little awareness of what is going on in the lives of other people.
They are so consumed by the “me” show that is forever playing out in their mind.
17) They’re always fishing for attention or praise
Of course, when the whole world revolves around you, you want to get the recognition you deserve.
I actually find that flattery works well in controlling an entitled person for this reason.
Because by dishing out praise, you’re confirming their view of themselves. And who would have guessed it, they like that!
Entitled people like to have all eyes on them. They don’t really enjoy sharing the spotlight.
18) It’s never their fault so don’t expect an apology
Arguments are almost impossible with entitled people.
No matter how many times you say it or how many different ways you try to explain your point of view, they just don’t get it.
Sadly, they aren’t capable of looking beyond their own interests.
This often blinds them to what seems perfectly obvious to you.
When you think you can do no wrong, you find it very difficult to back down. So entitled people can be infuriatingly stubborn.
Entitlement is a narcissistic personality trait
In a way, we should feel sorry for entitled people.
They don’t see how they create their own disappointment, pain, and even misery — and that’s very sad.
On the other hand, it can be really challenging to take pity when their behavior can be so destructive.
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