Master and Slave Mentalities

“People’s beliefs about their abilities have a profound effect on those abilities. Ability is not a fixed property; there is a huge variability in how you perform depending on the faith you have in yourself.” - Albert Bandura

Nietzsche viewed the "master" and "slave" mentalities as mental development orientations that start to take shape in childhood. They are internal attitudes toward life itself, subtly shaped in early life by family dynamics, attachment styles, and the narratives we tell ourselves about worth, control, and power. They are not inherited titles or castes or social classes.

The internal locus of control, which holds that one's destiny is mostly dictated by one's own actions, is the foundation of the master mentality. Individuals influenced by this mindset actively interact with the outside world, taking chances, trying new things, failing, and trying again. Their sense of value is based on their own development and success. In an attempt to control their emotions, anxieties, and surroundings, they evaluate themselves against their former selves. The master sees adversity and circumstance as raw challenges that can be overcome and turned into strength, rather than dismissing them.

The slave mentality, on the other hand, stems from an external locus of control. They perceive life as something that occurs to them rather than something that they have control over. The person becomes reactive, taking failures as evidence of their victim status and drawing a shaky sense of self from their moral superiority or their ability to elicit sympathy. In this mindset, one's power is found in complaining rather than taking action, and one gets enmeshed in tales of powerlessness. Because it fosters resentment rather than resilience, Nietzsche viewed this as a dangerous trap.

These orientations, however, are not predetermined outcomes. With deliberate effort, and reflection, they can be changed, even reversed. In order to transition from slave to master, one must face their own narratives head-on and have the guts to ask, "how can I be a better human being? Nietzsche would remind us that mastery is about taking charge of one's inner life, learning to act instead of react, and eventually becoming the author of one's own narrative not about controlling others.

More from Numerous Narratives 🍁
All posts