Final answer:
The term for someone with a "poor me" attitude is usually associated with a victim mentality or self-victimization, characterized by a refusal to acknowledge one’s role in one's own misfortunes and often accompanied by the Denial of Responsibility. It differs from egocentrism, which refers to an individual's excessive focus on themselves without consideration for others.
Step-by-step explanation:
The psychological term for someone who exhibits a "poor me" attitude is often associated with victim mentality or self-victimization. This is a type of defensive behavior where an individual consistently sees themselves as the victim of circumstances or the negative actions of others, and they refuse to acknowledge their own role in their misfortunes or failings. Victim mentality might involve statements like "You're right, I'm such a terrible person" or "I'll stop since I obviously can't do anything right," especially when faced with criticism or accountability.
Such individuals might also engage in the Denial of Responsibility, where they do not take responsibility for their own actions and instead blame external factors. An example of this behavior could include blaming a boss for not earning enough to make rent. Moreover, if someone often thinks others are out to get them, is highly defensive, and mentally prepares retaliation, this can be indicative of a form of paranoia or excessive defensiveness, which could be associated with a victim mentality as well.
It's important to distinguish between victim mentality and egocentrism, where an individual is overly focused on themselves and believes their ideas and actions are superior without consideration for others. Although both can result in self-centered behavior, they emerge from different psychological motivations and have different implications for a person's interpersonal relationships.