Apparently, collective guilt is an issue for Germans and for Russians (eg, German collective guilt, Russians And Collective Guilt). However, it might only be a media and/or a political topic (eg, DW-2019, Hungarian Conservative-2022). At least, guilt is an emotion rather than ratio.
How about individual and/or collective victim roles??
“Victim mentality is a psychological concept referring to a mindset in which a person, or group of people, tends to recognize or consider themselves a victim of the negative actions of others. In some cases, those with a victim mentality have in fact been the victim of wrongdoing by others or have otherwise suffered misfortune through no fault of their own.”
Source: Victim mentality (Wiki)
That Wikipedia definition suggests that all victim roles are beliefs that may – or may not – be rooted in reality. In my view, such beliefs may – ultimately – result in a (national) identity (eg, David versus Goliath).
I’ve noticed various articles on the relationship between beliefs and identities (eg, LinkedIn-2019, PostIndependent-2011, ScienceDirect-2024, Springer).
The diagram (left) is from the article: How to change your identity.
Hence, you need to change your thoughts before you can change your beliefs and your identity.
It’s my experience that people in an individual victim role are not interested in leaving their victim role. Usually, victim roles are (too) comforting. Probably, the same applies to collective victim roles.
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”
A quote from Atomic Habits (2018) by American writer James Clear (b.1986)
Identity (2020) by Chief Oliver De Coque (1947-2008)
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-artist, Uwa-Destiny
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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