Senior Project Advisor
Adrian Villicana
Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Spring 2025
Keywords
weaponized incompetence, gender roles, social psychology, manipulation, relational damage
Abstract
The objective of this quantitative study was to explore what is meant by “weaponized incompetence." The usage of the term has been steadily increasing on social media, particularly in feminist circles and to describe cisgender, heterosexual relationship behaviors. However, the assumed meaning of weaponized incompetence is not within the psychological literature and seems to be distinct from related ideas, like strategic ignorance. This study used a focus group design to ask participants to describe what they know of the term and how it is applied. Data gathered from these focus groups were analyzed using a process of thematic analysis which entails the coding and theming of focus group content. Based on findings from these focus groups, I defined weaponized incompetence as an intentional performance of incompetence to avoid accountability, shift labor, and maintain personal comfort. This is based on six themes developed from the focus groups: Context and Power Dynamics, Gendered Patterns and Socialization, Intent and Manipulation, Motivations, Harm and Consequences, and Self-Perpetuation and Normalization.
Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Augustine, Nina, "Understanding Weaponized Incompetence" (2025). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 1013.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/1013
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf