Entitlement in Relationships: Why “She Owes Me” Thinking Fuels Abuse
- Step Three, Inc. Staff
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
“Abuse isn’t caused by losing your temper. It grows out of beliefs, especially the belief that your partner owes you.” – Lundy Bancroft
When most people think about abuse, they picture shouting, insults, or physical violence. But underneath those actions lie something deeper: entitlement.
Entitlement in relationships is the belief that your partner “owes” you respect, loyalty, obedience, gratitude, or compliance simply because of "who you are", "what you’ve done", or "the role you play". It’s the mindset that says:
“She owes me respect because I work hard.”
“She owes me loyalty no matter what.”
“She owes me obedience because I’m the man.”
This belief system quietly fuels abusive behavior. It’s not just about emotions, it’s about what you think you’re entitled to. And unless those beliefs are challenged, they will continue driving a need for control, anger, and harm in your relationships.
What Entitlement in Relationships Really Means
Entitlement in relationships isn’t just wanting appreciation or fairness; it goes much further. It is the belief that your needs, opinions, or comfort automatically come first, regardless of how it affects your partner.
It is seeing the relationship as a one-way street where she exists to serve you, meet your needs, and keep you happy.
Entitlement says:
“She’s supposed to make me feel respected all the time.”
“She’s supposed to keep the peace by giving in.”
“She’s supposed to never complain or disagree.”
The problem with entitlement is that it strips away fairness and equality. Instead of seeing your partner as an equal with her own voice, her own feelings, and her own rights, you see her as someone who exists to fulfill obligations to you.
Over time, this belief often poisons communication, erodes trust, and leads to controlling and abusive behavior.
Why Entitlement Fuels Abuse
Here’s how entitlement shifts the lens in daily life:
Disagreement becomes disrespect.
Boundaries feel like betrayal.
Requests feel like demands.
Equality feels like an insult.
Entitlement is dangerous because it makes harmful reactions seem justified.
If you think you’re owed something, then every “no” or every "independent choice" your partner makes feels like she’s cheating you out of what’s rightfully yours.
When these types of belief are present, yelling, name-calling, intimidation, or even physical violence can feel to the abuser like “fair payback” instead of harm.
In reality, entitlement turns normal, everyday differences into a battle for control.
That’s why entitlement is often the root of abuse, because once you believe you’re owed, you’re more likely to often feel cheated.
Quick Quiz: Are Your Beliefs Entitled or Healthy?
Choose A if the statement represents an entitled/abusive belief.
Select H if the statement represents a healthy belief.
She should prioritize my needs. (A/H)
She has the same right to feelings as I do. (A/H)
If I work hard, she owes me loyalty. (A/H)
Respect is mutual and reciprocal. (A/H)
If she questions me, she’s being disrespectful. (A/H)
Disagreement is normal and not a sign of disrespect. (A/H)
I should have the final say because I provide. (A/H)
Decisions should be made together, as equals. (A/H)
If she doesn’t praise me, she’s ungrateful. (A/H)
I don’t need praise to fulfill my responsibilities; it's a shared duty. (A/H)
Quiz Scoring
Assign yourself 1 point for each item where your choice matches the key below.
(So: A on 1/3/5/7/9 and H on 2/4/6/8/10.) Total = 0–10 correct.
8–10 correct: You can clearly distinguish between healthy and entitled beliefs. Next step: observe if any entitled beliefs still seem “normal” to you in everyday life.
4–7 correct: Mixed results. Some entitled beliefs might still appear healthy. This is your area for growth—review the examples and alternatives section.
0–3 correct: Many entitled beliefs likely seem “healthy” or justified. Change is still very achievable; this is where BIP work is most beneficial.
Note: It’s common for abusive/entitled beliefs to feel healthy or normal. That doesn’t make them healthy. It just means you were taught them.
Keep in mind, this quiz isn’t about shaming anyone. It’s meant to be a tool to help you recognize where your thinking may be sabotaging your relationships.
Origins of Entitlement Beliefs
Entitlement is not self-created. It is learned:
Within families (“A man should always have the final say”).
Through culture (“Women should be submissive”).
In workplaces or media (where women’s voices are ignored).
From religion or tradition (“A wife owes her husband obedience”).
These messages can seem normal due to upbringing, but normal doesn't always equate to healthy.
Reflection:
What messages did you hear growing up about the roles of men? About the roles of women?
Which ones made you feel entitled? Were they messages you learned about women or men?
Entitlement in Daily Life: Examples
Scenario A He expects dinner to be ready when he gets home. When it isn't, he slams the cabinets and yells, “You never do anything right!”
Underlying belief: She owes me service.
Healthier belief: Preparing meals is a shared responsibility.
Scenario B She makes a purchase without consulting him. When she mentioned it later, he responds, “I earn the money, so I decide.”
Underlying belief: She owes me obedience.
Healthier belief: Decisions should be made jointly.
Scenario C After a long day at work, she asks him to help with the kids. He gets upset and says: “I’ve already done my part. What more do you want?”
Underlying belief: She owes me gratitude for working.
Healthier belief: Parenting duties are shared, regardless of how tired we are.
Replacing Entitled Beliefs with Healthy Beliefs
Recognizing entitlement is only the first step. The real work is replacing those beliefs with healthier ones. This takes time, ongoing effort, practice and humility, but it’s the key to lasting change and abuse free relationships.
Old: “She owes me respect for working hard.
”New: “Respect is shared and earned, not owed.”
Old: “She owes me obedience.
”New: “We make decisions together as equals.”
Old: “She owes me gratitude.
”New: “Helping at home is part of being a partner, it's not a favor.”
Old: “She owes me silence if I’m upset.
”New: “She has the right to speak and express her feelings, even if I don’t agree.”
Old: “She owes me intimacy whenever I want.
”New: “Intimacy is about mutual choice and respect, not demands.”
When you transition from entitled beliefs to healthier ones, positive changes occur, including but not limited to:
Arguments decrease because you no longer view equality as disrespect.
Your partner feels more secure, which fosters trust.
You start to feel less wronged, as you no longer expect constant "proof" from her.
You demonstrate healthier relationships for children and others around you.
Altering harmful, outdated beliefs is a sign of strength, not weakness. It takes courage to recognize when your mindset has negatively impacted your relationships and to choose kindness over control.
Reflection Questions
Think about the following:
What is something you felt entitled to in a past relationship?
What was your reaction when you didn't get it?
How do you think your partner felt during that time?
Which of your beliefs often cause the most conflicts or tension in your relationships?
These questions are meant to serve as a catalyst for change, not to make anyone feel guilty.
Commitment to Chang
Embracing change doesn’t mean you’ll never feel frustrated. It involves recognizing entitled beliefs before they lead to damaging and abusive actions.
Consider the following commitment statements:
“This week, rather than behaving as if I'm entitled, I will honor myself by showing respect.”
“Instead of expecting her gratitude, I will express my thanks for her actions.”
“Rather than insisting on obedience, I will focus on making decisions collaboratively.”
Respect implies: “We are collaborating towards shared objectives.”
Entitlement implies: “She owes me.”
Which approach will you embrace this week?
Final Thoughts: Why This Matters
Entitlement in relationships doesn’t just hurt your partner, it hurts you too. It traps you in a cycle of frustration, anger, and disappointment.
Every time you expect to be “owed,” you set yourself up to feel cheated. Over time, that constant sense of being slighted eats away at your peace of mind, your self-control, and your ability to build and maintain positive relationships that last.
Challenging entitlement allows you to:
Build self-respect instead of resentment.
Strengthen trust in the relationship instead of fear.
Create a partnership instead of power struggles.
As Bancroft reminds us:
“The goal isn’t just to stop the behavior. The goal is to challenge the belief that makes the behavior possible.”
This matters because beliefs are the foundation of actions. When you choose healthy beliefs over entitlement, you not only stop abuse, you also open the door to healthier relationships, safer families, and a better version of yourself.
Call to Action
If you see yourself reflected in parts of this blog post, consider stepping away from harmful patterns. Step Three, Inc. offers a 52-week Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) as well as a 10-week anger management program that assists men in questioning entitled beliefs, accepting responsibility, and fostering healthier relationships.
Reach out to Step Three, Inc. today to begin your journey toward genuine change.
If You’re a Victim of Domestic Violence
If you are experiencing abuse, know that it is not your fault. You can find support by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Help is available 24/7. If you're local to Southeastern Oklahoma you can also contact SOS For Families for local supports and recourses including, but not limited to safe harbor.
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