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Archive Number 2495 | ||
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Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 10:32:46 -0600
Mary, Laura, and Bobby, In the field of psychology there was a phase and presently in pop psychology there is an idea that therapy can be value neutral and we should remove judgment. For those working in the field it became clear that it is impossible to remove values and judgment from the therapeutic process. In fact the very notion of being non-judgmental is a value choice and judgment. Humorlessly, this perspective was being tauted as the best and most ethical and superior way of doing therapy. This was of course was a judgment. Mary the idea of suspending judgment to listen and to hear is a value and a judgment based on a value that we need to hear what the other person is really saying. This is a noble endevour and in my judgment a value worthy of practicing but none the less my choice to do so is a judgment call. It is as much of a judgment as it to make the choice to control someone by not listening and enforcing my perspective on them. Very simply the two approaches are on opposite ends of the continum but none the less values that call forth judgments followed by action. Further Bobby, as soon as I desire to influence another person to see my perspective and to understand and hopefully agree with me I have made numerous value choices and judgments of how I am behaving in the world and how I want others to be. We cannot live in the world and not make judgments. Even writing this post is a judgment based on the value of dialogue and this particular issue. Bobby every one of your responses has been filled with value judgments and how you want the world to be. You have made the value judgment to try to influence me based on your experience and your judgments and values of how you feel the world could be better. However, what is obvious you wish no harm. This I appreciate. Now with this said i also make another value judgment. I will do no harm to the best of my ability with those i disagree. This is what I call being "judgmental." However, I am willing to harm another --and have-- if someone is hurting a child or a woman. Now the harm I did was in the name of protection of someone who couldn't defend themselves. This is a value that is higher then do no harm because of the circumstances. Laura, you point out the complexity of communication and storytelling. This I think is the gift of storytelling. Storytelling is value laden and each story makes judgments of what is of value. Your story on the HSA Forum website about the boy having to decide wether to kill the monkey or not is filled with value choices. The only reson the story works is because the society in which it is told values and makes the judgments that both parents are of value. It also teaches the value that there is always a cost when we make a choice. This is a judgment and a value. It is similiar to the Spanish phrase "God exacts his price." Meaning no matter what choice you make there are consequences. My sense is this is a seldom held discussion in storytelling circles and many of of us move towards the idea of being non-judgmental but do not really understand that the very act of storytelling is an act of judgment, values, and ethics. thanks, Andre ------ http://USFamily.Net/info - Unlimited Internet - From $8.99/mo! ------ | ||