Parent lottery? Boss lottery? Is inequality in Japan inevitable? Is it natural to expect assistance? How to overcome resignation?

Those who accept inequality as inevitable are often the same people who tend to think they are entitled to assistance. Before falling into learned helplessness, let's explore perspectives for taking action together.

■ The psychology of justifying inequality is a defense mechanism

It may seem strange, but it is a common phenomenon for people in low-income brackets or disadvantaged positions to easily think that inequality is inevitable. People who are persecuted and suffer disadvantages often defend and justify the existing social systems that cause injustice and exploitation.

In social psychology, this is called System Justification Theory.

Thinking that you live in an unfair world increases psychological stress.

To reduce that stress, people think that inequality is natural and that this is fine. This further lowers the motivation to change the status quo. Thinking that it cannot be helped is itself a form of self-defense, which promotes maintaining the status quo.

■ The background of the idea that one is entitled to assistance

The background behind why people who justify inequality also feel they are entitled to assistance is an external locus of control belief.

They come to believe that their lives and circumstances are determined by luck, systems, or other people, rather than by their own efforts.

Parent lottery, boss lottery, assignment lottery, peer lottery...

Therefore, the idea arises that society should provide guarantees and that healthcare and education should naturally be free. Conversely, they feel strong resistance toward theories of self-responsibility.

There is a rational aspect to this way of thinking. In extremely disadvantageous environments, it is difficult to change results even with effort, so waiting is an adaptive behavior that consumes less energy.

■ The trap of learned helplessness

This psychological state can be considered close to learned helplessness. When you repeat the experience of trying hard but failing, you learn that nothing you do will work anyway.

Eventually, you stop making efforts altogether and lose even the hope that effort might be rewarded.

As a result, the amount of action decreases, leading to a vicious cycle where inequality widens further.

■ The benefits and side effects of 'it can't be helped'

The Japanese phrase 'shoganai' (it can't be helped) is excellent as a psychological coping mechanism; it is a magic word for accepting things you cannot control. However, it is like a convenient painkiller; if used too much, the possibilities for action are closed off, the energy to change the situation disappears, and a sense of helplessness becomes fixed. There is a risk that the muscles for taking action will atrophy.

■ The reality of 'it can't be helped' as seen by a doctor

In clinical settings, I often hear patients say, 'It can't be helped because I'm old,' 'It can't be helped because it's my constitution,' or 'It can't be helped because it's genetic.'

By blaming others or external factors, they give up.

While some of this is true and certain things cannot be changed, there are parts that can be altered through lifestyle habits and treatment. If one can improve their 'acceptance' of illness, disability, or hardship and focus on the positive aspects, it has the effect of moving self-care and treatment forward in a proactive way.

I believe the role of a healthcare professional is to gently shake that 'it can't be helped' mindset and provide support to shift toward finding what can be done.

■ What can be done to regain hope

In psychological intervention, it is effective to build up small successful experiences, provide roles or meaning that make one feel useful to others, and foster a growth mindset.

By conveying that abilities can change through effort and experience, the motivation to act again is restored. In rehabilitation and lifestyle improvement, it is also important to start with what is possible and let the person feel the results.

■ Turning resignation into a switch for action

'It can't be helped' is not a bad phrase.

It can be used as a switch to accept what cannot be changed and concentrate energy on the parts that can be changed.

The important thing is to take a breath after saying 'it can't be helped' and try to find one action you can take yourself.

Inequality may not disappear.

However, depending on your actions, you can navigate through it. Why not choose one small action today? Give something to someone, learn a little, or try a challenge. That first step might just become your own diploma of graduation from inequality.