Chauncey, I Appreciate Your Appreciation

• Responses to First Learning about Affect Theory by Jim Duffy a.k.a. J.C.D., 2/28/97
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    • Great Dialogue...a small systems thought...Please Continue! by c.h., 3/21/97
      
      

Chauncey, there are few things more enjoyable and exciting to me in life that being celebrated and cheered-on by somone I admire when I am sticking my neck out (from hiding) on a matter that I care deeply about. You just did this for me, and I want you to know I appreciate your appreciation. This does not happen often, for I have so many challenging and nonconforming ideas. You and others on this forum make being me more interesting and enjoyable, and my world is better for it.

When one understands sympathy and the great amount of highly developed thought that has gone into this idea in the last century by several philosophers, one has to wonder what in the world happened to discredit sympathy after "empathy" was introduced. I never felt comfortable hearing "sympathy" spoken of disparagingly, for as Wispe remarks at the very end of his book The Psychology of Sympathy, the capacity for sympathy is not as strong as the aggressive impulse, so the study of sympathy [as the natual antagonist to destructive aggression] needs all the support it can get. I agree with you that there seems to be a systems norm fostering the corruption and shaming of our understanding of sympathy in the mental-health profession. At some other time I may be able to organize a careful presentation of my ideas of why this norm exists. I am much less certain of why this norm exists than I am that it does in fact exist to our detriment.

............ "I always try to learn from others' mistakes because I won't have time enough to make them all myself [but still I keep at it]"

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