Is your partner pretending to be bad at something to avoid tasks?
Do you often step in and take over because they dont know how to do something?
This could be the result of weaponized incompetence.
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Where Did the Term Weaponized Incompetence Come From?
However, variations of this term have been used in other contexts for many years.
Why Do People Weaponize Incompetence?
It is possible that your partner isnt faking it and genuinely doesnt know how to do something.
They may express this and their partner may in turn assume the task for them.
This, however, reinforces the dynamic of incompetence versus competence.
For instance, perhaps the person had aprivileged childhoodwhere they didnt have to help out with household chores.
Or, perhaps they were overly spoiled by their parents/caregivers and never learned how to take care of themselves.
Who Is Most Likely to Weaponize Incompetence?
Anyone can weaponize incompetence in a relationship.
However, men are often more likely to engage in this behavior than women.
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Cerrato J, Cifre E.Gender inequality in household chores and work-family conflict.Front Psychol.
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