Victimismo

Question

I am looking for a good translation of "victimismo," that is, the act of casting oneself as a victim, or simply feeling that one is a victim. Any suggestions? Thanks

Answer 1

Thanks Natasha, that's very good. I would certainly use it in a psychological context, but in a philosophical one (this is a book on philosophy that I am translating for Columbia University Press) the word "complex" could be understood too many other ways. At any rate, my thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Your generosity is much appreciated.
W.

Answer 2

also possible: "victim complex"

Answer 3

"affect is a verb" Yes, you're absolutely right, I realized I'd slipped up there when I saw your version. Thanks. I have actually come across "affect" as a noun in baroque music theory, but in the present context, it was just a slip.

Answer 4

WadeMadrid said:

Thanks Heidita, I think I'm going to translate the sentence as: With its retroactive character, this legitimization ends up producing devastating affects on the present as such'as I said above, its political-discursive expression can be considered a specific manner of casting oneself as the victim.

Wade, just one comment on your translation. Affect is a verb, and effect is a noun (in this context). You want the latter here.

Answer 5

thanks James, I was avoiding "victimization" because it implies the act of turning someone else into a victim, whereas "victimismo" implies casting oneself as the victim. In the context of what I'm translating, the author is criticizing the latter as a way of avoiding responsibility for one's acts. As in: "I'm not guilty. I'm just trying to get back what they took from me."

Answer 6

It seems to mean "feeling oneself a victim" or just "victimization."

My attempt:

"This retroactive legitimization (whose political-discursive expression can be considered, it was announced, a specific variation on victimization) ends up generating some devastating effects on the present ..."

I didn't translate the last part because I'm not sure if the final presente is a noun or the subjunctive of presentar.

Answer 7

Thanks Heidita, I think I'm going to translate the sentence as:

With its retroactive character, this legitimization ends up producing devastating affects on the present as such'as I said above, its political-discursive expression can be considered a specific manner of casting oneself as the victim.

Answer 8

We would probably say:

don't play the victim

Answer 9

Hi James, here's the sentence: "Esta legitimación con carácter retroactivo (cuya expresión político-discursiva puede considerarse, según quedó anunciado, una específica variante del victimismo) termina generando unos efectos devastadores sobre el presente en tanto que presente."

Answer 10

You'll get much better answers if you give us some context. Words are not modules that can just be plugged into sentences.