First Reading: Is 60:1-6; Psalm: 72. R. v. 11; Second Reading: Eph 3:2-3a.5-6; Gospel: Mt 2:1-12

CRAB MENTALITY

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Mt 2:3)

Have we heard of “Crab mentality?” Crab mentality, also known as crab theory or crabs in a bucket mentality is a mentality of which people will try to prevent others from gaining a favourable position in something, even if it has no effect on those trying to stop them. If you took a group of crabs and put them in a bucket, something very interesting happens. If one of these crabs try to crawl its way out of the bucket, the rest of the crabs will gang up against it and start tugging it down. Now, if this crab persists, the rest of the crabs will gang up and break its arms. If it still persists, the crabs in the bucket will kill it. It is from this experiment that the crab mentality theory is derived.

Crab mentality is a common phenomenon in inter-human relationship. We see it playing out in our gospel narrative of today in the person of an evil king who will stop at nothing to retain his throne. Herod Antipas was a very brutal king. He is noted for his cruelty and his willingness to slaughter even members of his own family in order to retain his hold on power. Herod did not stop with killing innocent male babies when he couldn’t lay hold of the Christ child; he also killed members of the Sanhedrin, and everyone he suspected of planning a revolt against him. His madness and lust for power spilled into every facet of his life. He was named “King of the Jews” by the Roman senate because his cruel approach worked in maintaining order in Jerusalem. So, when the wise men inquired; “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”, the news unsettled Herod. There was no other king of the Jews but him. So, he began his stealth plan to do away with the Christ child.

It goes without saying that Herod was unwell psychologically. We are psychologically unhealthy when we feel threatened by others’ successes. This usually comes from a deep-seated feeling of insecurity within. Herod was ready to tug down and kill anyone who tries to compete with him or pose a threat to his throne knowingly or unknowingly. He obviously struggled with a sense of self-worth feeling not good enough in the face of any new challenge. When we feel not good enough in the midst of people who outdo us, we can feel threatened and be resentful towards them. This happens when we see life as competition instead of as diversity of colours that makes a beautiful rainbow. Orange and peach are both fruits. And our preference for these fruits differs. None is unimportant.

God needs a world where love and mutual appreciation of our individual giftedness are respected. This will eradicate jealousy and the crab mentality. If we do not love ourselves enough to know that our importance is not affected by the qualities that others possess, we could be ruled by jealousy and the crab mentality. Lack of self-love kills the believe in self-worth. People who lack self-worth measure their worth against the achievements of others, leading them to constantly feel threatened and inadequate. If others failed, they are contented. But if others are successful, they feel inferior and unsettled.

In life, members of our family may turn out more successful than we are. Friends will outshine us in various ways. And our co-workers will outdo us in some tasks. Our destinies are different whether it is shaped by the choices we make or by our thoughts and beliefs. Success does not follow the pyramid of age or seniority. In a family of three, it could happen that the youngest is more successful than the other two. When a younger sibling is more successful than we are, denying and fighting it will not change anything. It will only hurt us and leave us embittered. But on the other hand, accepting this reality gives us peace of mind. And it takes maturity to do this. The success of others cannot take away our self-worth.

Crab mentality is also the cause of unhealthy competition in our Churches and parish communities today. We must remember that we are gifted differently evident in the ministries we carry out. St Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians; “And God’s gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:11-12). So, we must not feel threatened or jealous by the successes recorded by a fellow parishioner who is divinely gifted to succeed. We must not embrace our service to God with the sole intention to prove to others that we are better. Our services should be centred on building up the one body of Christ.

Crab mentality is summarised with the phrase “If I can’t have it, neither can you.” This mentality can be toxic in workplaces where employees see each other as rivals. One employee with such mentality could mean trouble to the rest. When Herod the king was troubled by the news of the new-born king, all in Jerusalem were also troubled. Not because of the new-born but because of the evil Herod could do when troubled. One toxic person can cause pain to many. We must be different. In our workplaces, as we challenge one another through healthy level of competition, we must be wary of rivalry and excessive competition that can breed negative energies and unethical behaviours. We should think progress, not individual brilliance      

The solemnity of the epiphany celebrates the manifestation of the Christ child to the Gentile world. We should not be indifferent like the chief priests and scribes who confirmed this news by a prophesy and did nothing more. Like people who hear of the good news that happens to a neighbour and fail to associate or identify with them.  We must not go the way of Herod who on hearing the news was beclouded by insecurity and hate; like people with the crab mentality. But like the wise men, we must rejoice with our presence and gifts when the Christ child blesses others with good news. Because when we genuinely feel happy for the successes and good fortune of others, good things will come our way as well.   

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, grant us the spirit of genuine love and mutual appreciation; and rid us of every trace of crab mentality. Amen.