The alienation of the sufferer
- PMID: 7625781
- DOI: 10.1097/00012272-199506000-00006
The alienation of the sufferer
Abstract
Suffering is a particularly human experience that often brings with it loneliness or alienation from others. The theory described in this article explains the mechanisms through which suffering affects an individual's sense of community and connectedness with others. The intricate patterns are explained to provide a basis for prescriptive nursing to prevent or reverse this loss of connectedness. First, the article develops the concept of suffering and its influences on relationship with the self and with others and the relationship of others with the sufferer. Then, the concept of alienation is developed in this context, its philosophical roots explored, and a continuum described that encompasses alienation through connectedness. Related concepts of separation, shame, and stigma are briefly described as partial cases of alienation of the sufferer that also show the pervasiveness of the phenomenon. Next, the personal characteristics of an individual who might help are developed through the concept of wisdom. Last, an explanation is given as to why care is the contextual framework through which alienation is reversed and connectedness achieved. Although suffering, alienation, and care have gone by many names, the essences of these phenomena have been recurrent theme in descriptions of human response.
Similar articles
-
Interpersonal and Intersubjective Alienation in Social Stigmatization and Depression.Psychopathology. 2022;55(3-4):201-210. doi: 10.1159/000519253. Epub 2021 Oct 15. Psychopathology. 2022. PMID: 34657044 Review.
-
Self-esteem as mediator and moderator of the relationship between stigma perception and social alienation of Chinese adults with disability.Disabil Health J. 2014 Jan;7(1):119-23. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2013.07.004. Epub 2013 Sep 7. Disabil Health J. 2014. PMID: 24411516
-
A social/emotional theory of 'mental illness'.Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2013 Feb;59(1):87-92. doi: 10.1177/0020764012445004. Epub 2012 Jun 21. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2013. PMID: 22723517 Review.
-
Self-compassion: a concept analysis.J Holist Nurs. 2012 Jun;30(2):81-9. doi: 10.1177/0898010111423421. Epub 2011 Oct 24. J Holist Nurs. 2012. PMID: 22024954
-
Alienation, dogmatism, and related personality characteristics.J Clin Psychol. 1983 Jan;39(1):80-6. doi: 10.1002/1097-4679(198301)39:1<80::aid-jclp2270390115>3.0.co;2-s. J Clin Psychol. 1983. PMID: 6826758
Cited by
-
A qualitative meta-synthesis of studies of patients' experience of exercise interventions in advanced cancer.Front Rehabil Sci. 2024 Jan 4;4:1298553. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1298553. eCollection 2023. Front Rehabil Sci. 2024. PMID: 38239628 Free PMC article. Review.
-
A Narrative Approach to Healing Chronic Illness.Ann Fam Med. 2018 Mar;16(2):160-165. doi: 10.1370/afm.2182. Ann Fam Med. 2018. PMID: 29531109 Free PMC article.
-
At the intersection of self and not-self: finding the locus of 'self' in autoimmunity.Med Humanit. 2018 Jun;44(2):137-139. doi: 10.1136/medhum-2017-011364. Epub 2018 Feb 7. Med Humanit. 2018. PMID: 29436480 Free PMC article.
-
Parents' experiences of communication with neonatal intensive-care unit staff: an interview study.BMC Pediatr. 2014 Dec 10;14:304. doi: 10.1186/s12887-014-0304-5. BMC Pediatr. 2014. PMID: 25492549 Free PMC article.
-
Meanings of being received and met by others as experienced by women with MS.Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2011 Mar 7;6(1). doi: 10.3402/qhw.v6i1.5769. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2011. PMID: 21394245 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical