CRAB MENTALITY

The term ‘crab mentality’ is used negatively throughout the Philippines to denote a

reputed Filipino cultural tendency to try to ‘pull down’ those who succeed (Bulloch

2013: 234). It refers to an analogy of crabs in a bucket, whereby if one attempts to

climb out, others will pull it back down in their own attempts to clamber out (see Wil-

son 1995 [1973] for a similar metaphor in the Caribbean). In the Philippines, crab

mentality can connote any one of three overlapping things: envy, as in a desire to

ensure others are not doing better than oneself; competitiveness, as in efforts to try to

better or even usurp someone else’s position; and burden, as in attempts to partake of

another’s success and thereby diminish it. The concept is often invoked in reference to

ideas of progress. One commentator explains it thus:

It is said that we Filipinos have crab mentality and so we do not attain the progress and

prosperity we have long been aspiring for, that it is practiced only by us Filipinos, and

that we will remain a poor nation if it is not plucked from our selves.

Allegedly, we pull [down] those on top of us so that we can be the ones in the better posi-

tion; or when it seems that we cannot all go out of our bad conditions, we pull everyone

down so that all of us will share the misery; then, we relish it when we have pulled some-

body down.Neighbors defaming neighbors, reporters inventing stories about celebrities, businessmen
performing unfair competitions [sic], and professionals dislodging fellow professionals are among the
crab mentality practices. Of course, there is the timeless neighborhood rivalry: If a resident buys
something, his neighbor will try to outdo him by purchasing a similar but more expensive item. And
when politicians fail to deliver their electoral promises of better lives, they chastise the people for not
cooperating and rather pulling down others, hence the general failure. (Royeca 2010a)

As is evident from this paragraph, the concept of crab mentality is deployed in ref-

erence to an almost bewildering range of scenarios and practices, which makes its rela-

tionship to cooperation slippery, but some common themes emerge and some of its
contradictions are revealing. Crab mentality is usually talked about in the Philippines with the
assumption that it is a trait relatively peculiar to Filipinos. ‘It’s the attitude of the Pinoy [Filipino]’7
Siquijodnon friends often told me. They imagine crab mentality is largely absent in

wealthy countries, such as the United States (which, as a former colonial master and

one of the most powerful countries in the world, has come to represent the pinnacle

https://www.samwoolfe.com/2018/07/crab-mentality.html

Woolfe

The crab mentality can manifest when people are dissatisfied with their situation but are struggling to
get out of that place due to a variety of factors: personal circumstances, denial of the situation, excuse-
making, fear, anxiety, a lack of discipline, a lack of motivation, energy or hope, and a general proclivity
towards negative habits of thoughts and behaviours. Instead of speaking honestly about one’s own
issues, people try to reduce the self-confidence of others who are making progress.

Azel 2016

Crab nentality is universal

Crab mentality is not limited to individuals. It can be observed in the behavior of groups, communities
and nations.And although crab mentality is universal, in some societies it becomes a coordinated
national activity under the disguises of egalitarianism, wealth redistribution, income equality, and
similar efforts to pull down those who reach for success.

Soubhari and Kumar (2018) in their study

“The CRAB

- BucketEffect and Its Impact on Job Stress

An Exploratory Study With

Reference To Autonomous Colleges” argued that an accusation of

having this type of mentality is a poor reflection of someone'spersonality. This concept is universal and a
timeless neighborhood

rivalry. There is no separate training needed for personnel of

such behavior. It‘s not a problem or a psychic disorder. It‘

s
merely a reflection of the past experiences in one‘s own sub

-conscious mind.International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computingand

Communication ISSN: 2321-8169 Volume: 2 Issue: 10 3022

3027retrieved February 16, 2019According to a recent study at the University of Californiaat

Berkeley (2012), researchers discovered that hermit crabscongregate together, not for protection or
mating, but to tradetheir shell in hopes of finding a roomier one. The crabs all lineup in a row, from
smallest to largest, with each crab grabbing ahold of the one in front of it. They then go at it

trying touproot each other from their homes with the goal of moving intobetter real estate, which in
hermit crab terms is a larger shell.This kind of mentality can strike at any levels of life. Somecharitable
organizations are often accused of it, having themembers of the organization failed to think ahead or
refusing tosupport the initiatives in a way that it ultimately drags the wholecharity down. In office
environments, having a crab mentality canbe potentially devastating, as co-workers snipes each other
down,rather than congratulating the one who earns the promotion.