Although self-pity every now and then is something normal as that is one of the key stages of grief, it should be temporary and small compared to the exaggerated feelings of guilt, shame, helplessness, etc.
[20]: 240 It is common for a therapist to take a long period of time to build a trusting relationship with a victim.
Studies were successful in identifying a strong correlation between those with a victim mentality and negative behaviors such as catastrophizing, self-demandingness, demandingness to others, and low frustration tolerance.
[24] For adolescent victims, group support and psychodrama techniques can help people gain a realistic view of past traumas, seeing that they were helpless but are no longer so.
[25] Successful techniques have included therapeutic teaching methods regarding concepts of normative decision theory, emotional intelligence, cognitive therapy, and psychological locus of control.
[6] De Lint and Marmo identify an 'antivictimism' mentality existing within society as a whole, and those who choose to use the label victim mentality; expecting individuals to only be "true victims" by showing fortitude and refusing to show pain, with displays of pain being seen as a sign of weakness.
[29][30] Political psychologists Bar-Tal and Chernyak-Hai write that collective victim mentality develops from a progression of self-realization, social recognition, and eventual attempts to maintain victimhood status.
[31] Researchers have observed that a strong feeling of collective victimhood is associated with a low forgiveness level and an increased desire for revenge.
[6][36][38] Researchers observe that competitive victimhood arises from the conflicting parties' desire to defend their moral image, restore agency, and gain power.
[39][40] Competitive victimhood has been found to critically and significantly hinder conflict resolution and reconciliation,[37] as well as decrease the potential for future peaceful coexistence.