THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WEAPONIZED INCOMPETENCE: LINKS WITH PASSIVE AGRESSION AND SELF-PERCEIVED COMPETENCE

Abstract

Background: Weaponized incompetence refers to the strategic presentation of oneself as incapable or helpless in order to avoid responsibility or shift tasks onto others. Despite its growing visibility in public discourse, empirical examination of this construct remains limited. Using.

Objectives: Present study explored the relationship between weaponized incompetence, passive-aggressive behavior, and perceived competence among adults in Lahore, Pakistan. Method: this article is extracted from a large scale study on weaponized incompetence. A cross-sectional design was employed, data were collected from 99 participants aged 18 to 28 who completed the Forman Weaponized Incompetence Scale (FWIS), the Passive Aggressive Scale (PAS), and the Perceived Competence Scale (PCS).

Results: Descriptive statistics revealed substantial variability in weaponized incompetence scores, with men and women revealing different pattern of scores across deliberate sabotage, passive resistance and feigned helplessness. Correlational analysis indicated a strong positive association between weaponized incompetence and passive-aggressive behavior, and a significant inverse association between weaponized incompetence and perceived competence. These findings suggest that weaponized incompetence may function as a relational strategy overlapping with covert resistance and indirect hostility, particularly in cultural contexts where direct confrontation is discouraged. Moreover, habitual use of such behaviors may contribute to the internalization of low self-efficacy. The study contributes to the theoretical understanding of weaponized incompetence as a culturally shaped, psychologically complex form of impression management with implications for interpersonal relationships, workplace dynamics, and psychological well-being.