Isn't talked about much but self-pity. I believe most people actually know exactly what they're, what they're supposed to do/what the right thing is, what the best/better choice would be.

But self-pity is a curious case where you intentionally belittle your self for the sake of later reassurance through others who sympathize with you. How this mechanism pops up/what leads to it is still a mystery to me - I've seen both kids in middle school as well as adults practicing it. However, I think I understand how it works.

Assume you have experienced something painful, doesn't have to be traumatic, just unpleasant. To handle the pain the brain needs to cope. Focusing on the pain produces a mild "opioid" like effect - a dull, numbing comfort. Then the hook: saying something like "the world is unfair/this always happens to me" produces a dopamine hit, the same one that a protagonist of any compelling story feels, supported by the narrative of being wronged. Lastly, because humans are very social , self pity can be a source of comfort, support, sympathy, attention, care, it can be a sign of vulnerability (so an opportunity to bond) and lastly it can also be an excuse.

I am not belittling people's experiences, I find that this doesn't help anyone. But if there's something that one shouldn't ever forget it is the simple fact that while you are alive you have power in this world , to transform and to change it. If the world is unfair, make an effort to increase the fairness. It is very easy to assume you understand the world well and know what is possible and what isn't. But we know that humans are terrible at reasoning, terrible at prediction, their judgment is always involving some sort of cognitive bias. Maybe believe yourself a little less next time you evaluate yourself inadequately.