The psyhcology behind victimhood/persecution complexes and why they've become so trendy

After some lazy and half-assed consultation from Gemini, Grok and ChatGPT, a conclusion here has been reached.

Gemini did the best job summing up the pyschology part, and it turns out that persecution complexes are perfect for smug, overdramatic and self-centered sonsofbitches who have a hard time with accountability...

The "Narcissism of Victimhood": (A persecution complex) puts the storyteller at the center of a grand drama. To be persecuted, one must be important enough to merit the effort of an enemy.

Externalizing Failure: It’s not that (someone with a persecution complex) failed; it’s that "the system" or "the haters" actively sabotaged them.

Moral Elitism: By casting themselves as the victim, the (person with a persecution complex) automatically assumes the "moral high ground." In many modern social frameworks, the victim is seen as inherently more virtuous than the perceived oppressor.

Victimhood and persecution complexes also can give a person more of a sense of identity, and humans are always subconsiously seeking out and re-defining their sense of identity...

Seeing oneself as persecuted can provide a clear identity: victim, truth-teller, outsider, or underdog. That can be especially appealing during periods of social or personal instability. - Grok

...The 3 AI chatbot friends all concluded that social media and internet algorithms are largely behind the trend, and blabbering about being persecuted and victimized are incentivized...

The "Engagement" Economy: Social media algorithms prioritize high-arousal emotions like outrage, fear, and sympathy. A story about "how I was unfairly treated" or "how they tried to cancel me" generates significantly more engagement (likes, shares, comments) than a story about personal growth or mundane success. - Gemini

Social Media and Echo Chambers: Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and others create environments where outrage and victim narratives spread rapidly, reinforcing biases through algorithms that favor emotional content. This "weaponization of victimhood" turns personal stories into viral tools for influence, making persecution claims more visible and normalized. - Grok

Platforms reward outrage, grievance, and moral certainty. Content framed as “we’re being attacked/silenced/targeted” spreads faster and attracts attention and validation. - ChatGPT[/b]

Then, there's the subconsious need to belong to a larger group and one that is fighting for something valiant...

Persecution is a powerful "social glue." When a group (political, religious, or hobbyist) believes they are under attack, it creates in-group solidarity. Anecdotes of persecution serve as "proof" that the group must stay united against a common foe. - Gemini

So, in the Worst Periods in American History thread, when the one guy votes for 2008-Present because "That’s when the woke mind virus began and it became fashionable to hate yourself because you are white and should be shamed," this is basically what's going on here.

It doesn't matter that 200 years ago in America the average life expectancy was 38 and your friends and family were always dying. People back then didn't live long enough to die from cancer or heart disease. They either shite themselves to death or died from choking on their own phleghm with a 105 degree fever before reaching old age. Top 5 causes of death:

Tuberculosis (Consumption): The most chronic and persistent killer, accounting for a large share of adult deaths; often topped lists in city records.

Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections: Major cause, especially in winter; frequently combined with influenza.

Gastrointestinal Infections (Diarrhea, Dysentery, Cholera Infantum):
Devastating for infants and children; caused by contaminated water/food.

Typhoid/Typhus Fever: Waterborne and louse-borne fevers, common in unsanitary conditions.

Malaria (Intermittent Fever): Prevalent in southern and coastal regions.

Nor did it matter that there was no such things as central heat/air, indoor plumbing, insulated houses, roofs that last 25 years and grocery stores that will deliver whatever you want to your house.