Reporters Name: Lord Louiel O.

Cabulao Subject: Philippine Values System

Instructor: Marc Benigno C. Olaguir, M.A. Date: November 07, 2020

CRAB MENTALITY

OBJECTIVES
1. Define Crab mentality
2. Identify some characteristics of Crab mentality
3. Reflect the result of crab mentality
OUTLINE
A. Introduction
B. Definition
C. Growth mindset over Crab mentality
D. Conclusion
E. References
CONTENT
A. Introduction
Filipinos call it crab mentality. A lot of Filipino just doesn’t like it when someone has a better life especially if
they live next to their house that they can see them often. In our day to day life in the Philippines We have
encountered many Filipino who are like a black hole trying to pull everyone they can into a dark place that
represent; sadness, depression and drama but even with that I am still not so use to it and I am not like a
black hole. When someone starts talking and pulling everyone down by making a bad picture of anyone
they hate (just because of the fact that they are so jealous of the way they live or the way they are) I talk
back and my words tell them that I am not into their game – and it is like I push them out of my life.

B. Definition
The term crab mentality refers to the behavior of crabs in the bucket or pot who try to seek freedom. The
crabs could easily escape one after another but they pull down each other and prevent anyone from
escaping and in the process collectively suffer suffocation and death. The metaphor when applied to a
human situation refers to the mentality of an individual or group that endeavors to pull down literally, any
person who reaches for the heights of success. Less successful individuals with a selfish and constricted
thinking consciously attempt to pull down those who are on an upward scale. The crab mentality approach
basically subscribes to the idea “I can't have it so I’ll not allow you to get it.”

Crab mentality is something that can be found in all segments of the society. Even charitable and religious
institutions fall prey to the malady of crab mentality which can wreck its reputation in society.

“Crab mentality” has become a norm in our society to a point that we hardly even see it as a bad thing
anymore and those who are against it are considered not sociable and unfriendly. People having a crab
mentality are all the time trying to bring their opponent down. These are the people who cannot do much to
improve their own status or achievement. Instead they try to thwart the attempts of those who aspire to
move up the ladder of success.

C. Growth Mindset Over The Crab Mentality

Having a growth mindset is essential to defeating the crab mentality. These two ways of thinking are the
opposite. The crab mentality focuses on lack where the growth mentality concentrates on plenty.
Actions of People With a Crab Mentality?
 Entitled
 Hold grudges
 Take credit for others work
 Blame others for failures
 Avoid challenges
 Hoard information
 Lack of goals
 Avoid any form of conscious discipline
  Believe that there is only so much to go around
When you meditate on the list above, it's easy to see how the crab in the bucket story plays out the way it
does. Entitlement makes people feel that they should be the one with success. When they see others
succeeding, they get fearful and jealous. They fear that they will consume all the resources without them.
Instead of working on getting to the top, they try and stall others.

What makes the crab mentality worse is it ignores people who have solutions. Others start refusing to
share because they don't want to see others win. It's easier to keep the idea hidden so that everyone fails.
Actions of Those With a Growth Mindset?
 Compliment others
 Always learning
 Talk about ideas instead of people
 Clear goals
 Takes ownership
 Shares information
 Give others credit for victories
The growth mindset is the opposite of the crab mentality. The growth mindset is all about sharing, helping,
and growing. Great leaders always have a growth mindset. You must be willing to share a compliment,
ideas, information. The only thing growth cares about is getting closer to the goal.

D. Conclusion
A crab in a bucket with a growth mindset is thinking, "how do we get every crab out of this bucket?" The
other way of thinking is only asking, "how do I get myself out of this bucket?" The stating question changes
everything. The growth-minded way of thinking is trying to help the group succeed.
There's this quote saying, "Pulling someone down will never help you reach the top." So stop crab
mentality, just be happy for what they are now and focus on yourself so that you can be successful like
them, do not compete with others instead help one another to reach the top.
The analogy in human behavior is claimed to be that members of a group will attempt to reduce the self-
confidence of any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of envy, resentment, spite,
conspiracy, or competitive feelings, to halt their progress.

E. References
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality#:~:text=Crab%20mentality%2C%20also%20known%20as,ar
e%20trapped%20in%20a%20bucket
https://www.change.org/p/everyone-we-are-better-than-crabs-stop-crab-mentality.
https://www.phcc.gov.ph/column8-bm-caca-king-crab-mentality/.
https://thehabitstacker.com/the-crab-mentality/#.