Counseling and psychotherapy of religious clients by Vicky Genia

Author:Vicky Genia [Genia, Vicky]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Praeger
Published: 2011-03-19T22:35:59+00:00

Owing to more severe cumulative traumas, this type is the least psychologically integrated and emotionally stable of stage two individuals. Their ability to see God as a constant object and erect a strong repression barrier distinguishes them from self-effacing egocentrics. The spiritual recluse passively wallows in narcissistic piety, instead of actively living in the service of genuine spiritual ideals.

EGOCENTRIC VERSUS DOGMATIC FAITH

Since the egocentric and the dogmatic stages have characteristics in common, further comments are warranted. In particular, as a result of parenting that undermined their initiative and individuality, people in stages one and two are perfectionistic and strive to attain an ideal self. However, despite this resemblance, due to qualitative differences in the parent-child interaction, very specific psychological dynamics differentiate these two types. These are summarized in Table 8.1.

People in stage one were scapegoats for their parents' own rage and disillusionment. Having been repeatedly depreciated and ridiculed, these people feel worthless and self-contemptuous. In stark opposition to the volatile and disorganized households of egocentrics, authoritarian parents are more judicious and predictable. Although they tend to be rigid and uncompromising, overcon troll ing parents generally do not make impossible demands or cruelly humiliate their children. Thus, the self-dissatisfaction that plagues people who grew up in authoritarian households is usually attenuated by some degree of self-acceptance.

Because egocentrics were traumatically and persistently belittled or neglected, they feel defeated, demoralized and at the mercy of forces beyond their control. Their brittle facades and grandiose fantasies help sustain a precarious equilibrium that is constantly threatened by a pernicious core of self-hatred. The marked disparity between their actual abilities and their need to be extraordinary prevents them from using their natural talents to form a positive identity. To compensate for their emotional deficits and sense of helplessness, the religiously egocentric seek omnipotence through symbiotic attachment to or magical identification with God or idealized religious leaders.

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