Postal Workers Scripts/Systems Not Unlike Hazing Mental Health Interns

• Responses to First Learning about Affect Theory by Jim Duffy a.k.a. J.C.D., 2/28/97
  • San Francisco Postal Workers' Protest Shaming (Scripts and Systems--Learning about Affect Theory) by c.h., 3/14/97
    
    

The postal workers' experience is close to what psychotherapy interns experience. Only we don't picket/protest (unprofessional?). Supervisors (operating out of a "script" (?) that includes intellectualizing Freud, etc.) shame interns in order to propagate powerlessness in the mental health system. Hazing happened to me, and I have interns coming to me for support, in person and via e-mail, for how to deal with this "normal" brutalizing.

These abusive managerial/supervisorial behavior patterns or sub-routines ("scripts?") have commonalities that are normative to each system (postal system or mental health system). Until we have a language---and courage---to talk about it, these behaviors will persist.

Obviously, we are talking about our own profession, so there will be attempts at norm enforcement, that is, to sabotage development of this language....that is the way norms work to keep things from changing.....it's rough to keep on this systems track when we are looking at what we do to interns in our own field. It's shaming to discuss this, but it is not attack-self shame.....perhaps it's "backed up affect"....or is this too confusing! Wow! (Smile) Great 3- 9-97 post posing questions about backed up affect, Jim Duffy! I too look forward to Don's or Vick's reply to your Q's. Chauncey.

• Glad You're Curious, Too, C.H. by Jim Duffy, 3/15/97
  • Einstein, Tomkins, Darwin and *Hiding Out*....... by c.h., 3/15/97
• Narcissism, Shame, and the Taboo on Neediness Could Be Understood When the Mental Health Profession Understands Sympathy by Jim Duffy, 3/20/97
  • Sympathy unmasked by Don Nathanson, 3/21/97
    • What is Sympathy? Parts I, II, III, and IV by Jim Duffy, 3/21/97
      • Great Dialogue...a small systems thought...Please Continue! by c.h., 3/21/97
        • Chauncey, I Appreciate Your Appreciation by Jim Duffy, 3/22/97
      • Sympathy for the Devil by Rich Kuyper, 3/22/97
        • You Are The Expert on Therapy, Rich. I Will Ponder Theories with You by Jim Duffy, 3/22/97
          • Therapy for Abusers by Margaret Blakely, 3/23/97
            • Wow, Good Idea! by Jim Duffy, 3/23/97
          • On Support for the Sinner by Rich Kuyper, 3/24/97
        • ....and all the siners...Saints by Ed Riemann LCSW, 3/23/97
          • A victim's thought by sarah, 5/2/97
      • Caring? Love? Sympathy? by Don Nathanson, 3/22/97
        • How Does Affect Theory Explain the Care in a Caring Person? by Jim Duffy, 3/22/97
      • Sympathy, Empathy, etc. by Margaret Blakely, 3/23/97
        • Thanks For Your Thoughtful Input, Margaret by Jim Duffy, 3/23/97
        • Margaret - Hanging out as close to the center of the compass of shame as possible. by Steve Shmurak, 10/26/97
          • Center of Compass-Continuation by Steve Shmurak, 10/27/97
  • Humor...Margaret a *Lightweight*, Jim Washes Away *Sympathy*; What's Happening to Rich? by c.h., 3/23/97
  • Comment by Rich Kuyper, 3/25/97
    • Faith, Hope, Love, and Science Sustain Us Through a Shame Darkened March of History by Jim Duffy, 3/27/97
      • Men and Shame....Enormous Issue Now Faced Directly by Jim! Thank you! by c.h., 3/28/97
        • Chauncey, I Love the Work You Do by Jim Duffy, 3/28/97
        • Enormous issue by Margaret Blakely, 3/28/97
        • Oil and Water by Ed Riemann, 3/30/97
      • Men and shame by Margaret Blakely, 3/28/97
        • I Know What You Mean, Margaret by Jim Duffy, 3/29/97
          • Woops, I Goofed Again on My Web Page Address by Jim Duffy, 3/29/97
        • What Can Women Do about Men's Needing to Adapt to (Shaming) Systems? by c.h., 3/29/97
      • Ed...I'm Laughing... by c.h., 3/31/97
        • How You Play the Game by Ed Riemann, 3/31/97
    • Beggars Banquet by Ed Riemann, 3/30/97