Martyr complex

In psychology a person who has a martyr complex , sometimes associated with the term " victim complex ", desires the feeling of being a martyr for their own sake and seeks out suffering or persecution because it either feeds a physical need or a desire to avoid responsibility. In some cases, this results from the belief that the martyr has been singled out for persecution because of exceptional ability or integrity. ^[1] Other martyr complexes involve willful suffering in the name of love or duty. This has been observed especially in poor families, as well as in codependent or abusive relationships. ^[2]^[3] The desire for martyrdom is sometimes considered a form of masochism . ^[4] Allan Berger, however, described it as one of several patterns of "pain/suffering seeking behavior", including asceticism and penance . ^[5] Theologian Paul Johnson considers such beliefs a topic of concern for the mental health of clergy. ^[6]

References [ edit ]

^ Davis, Sheldon E. (September 1945). "What Are Modern Martyrs Worth?". Peabody Journal of Education . 23 (2): 67?68. doi : 10.1080/01619564509535934 .
^ Lewis, Oscar (October?December 1949). "Husbands and Wives in a Mexican Village: A Study of Role Conflict" . American Anthropologist . 51 (4): 602?610. doi : 10.1525/aa.1949.51.4.02a00050 .
^ Kutner, Nancy G. (March 1975). "The Poor Vs. the Non-poor: an Ethnic and Metropolitan-Nonmetropolitan Comparison". The Sociological Quarterly . 16 (2): 250?263. doi : 10.1111/j.1533-8525.1975.tb00943.x .
^ Seligman, David B. (May 1970). "Masochism". Australasian Journal of Philosophy . 48 (1): 67?75. doi : 10.1080/00048407012341471 .
^ Berger, Allen S. (September 2003). "Choosing to Suffer: Reflections on an Enigma". Journal of Religion and Health . 42 (3): 251?255. doi : 10.1023/A:1024843702805 .
^ Johnson, Paul E. (January 1970). "The emotional health of the clergy". Journal of Religion and Health . 9 (1): 50?50. doi : 10.1007/BF01533165 .

[1] Davis, Sheldon E. (September 1945). "What Are Modern Martyrs Worth?". Peabody Journal of Education . 23 (2): 67?68. doi : 10.1080/01619564509535934 .

[2] Lewis, Oscar (October?December 1949). "Husbands and Wives in a Mexican Village: A Study of Role Conflict" . American Anthropologist . 51 (4): 602?610. doi : 10.1525/aa.1949.51.4.02a00050 .

[3] Kutner, Nancy G. (March 1975). "The Poor Vs. the Non-poor: an Ethnic and Metropolitan-Nonmetropolitan Comparison". The Sociological Quarterly . 16 (2): 250?263. doi : 10.1111/j.1533-8525.1975.tb00943.x .

[4] Seligman, David B. (May 1970). "Masochism". Australasian Journal of Philosophy . 48 (1): 67?75. doi : 10.1080/00048407012341471 .

[5] Berger, Allen S. (September 2003). "Choosing to Suffer: Reflections on an Enigma". Journal of Religion and Health . 42 (3): 251?255. doi : 10.1023/A:1024843702805 .

[6] Johnson, Paul E. (January 1970). "The emotional health of the clergy". Journal of Religion and Health . 9 (1): 50?50. doi : 10.1007/BF01533165 .

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