elbow mentality

English

Etymology

Calque of German Ellbogenmentalität or Ellenbogenmentalität, from Ellbogen / Ellenbogen (“elbow”) + Mentalität (“mentality”).

Noun

elbow mentality (plural elbow mentalities)

1. (idiomatic) An attitude characterized by self-interest and a willingness to prioritize personal benefit or ambition, often above the welfare of an organization or community; a willingness to elbow (verb) past others.
   • 2012 December 1, Klaus Boehnke, Susanne Rippl, “General and ‘Neighbourly’ Trust in Border Regions: An Analysis of the Influence of Disintegration Experience and of Self-Enhancement Mentalities in the German-Czech Border Regions”, in Czech Sociological Review [Sociologický časopis]‎^[1], volume 48, number 6, Prague: Sociologický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i., →ISSN, →JSTOR, →OCLC, pages 1075–1092:

     In both samples, hierarchic self-interest, a syndrome of self-enhancing value orientations, sometimes called an ‘elbow mentality’ [Hadjar 2004] or a ‘capitalist mentality’ [Boehnke and Dragolov forthcoming], negatively predicted generalised trust, though once again the effect sizes were quite low.

   • 2018, Christian Kenntner, editor, WE in Transition [Das WIR im Wandel]‎^[2] (PDF), Bonn: International FoodNetCenter Bonn, archived from the original on 2021-02-08, page 21:

     Elbow mentality and competition with the aim of absolute profit maximization seem to drive trade and economic relations.

   • 2020, Campana & Schott as an Employer‎^[3], Campana & Schott, archived from the original on 2020-10-20:

     We believe in high fives instead of elbow mentality. This means above all that we help each other, celebrate our successes together and treat each other amicably.

   • 2021 February 7, Kate Connolly, “Freedom and fairness: Covid vaccine passport plans cause global unease; Schemes are in development from Sweden to China, but there are fears around transmission and social unrest”, in The Guardian‎^[4], archived from the original on 2021-02-07:

     Germany's ethics council, an independent body that advises the government, has recommended that no special conditions be granted to the inoculated. It declared it was “currently unacceptable to lift state restrictions on civil liberties”, arguing not only was there a lack of evidence over whether vaccinated people could still spread the virus, but that introducing special privileges for them might encourage an “elbow mentality” which could lead to unrest. If there was to be a priority, it should go to the vaccinated residents of care homes in recognition of the extraordinary burdens they face.

Translations

attitude of self-interest

• German: Ellbogenmentalität, Ellenbogenmentalität

See also

• Elbonia on Wikipedia.Wikipedia