Understanding Weaponized Incompetence

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.